Sports Development: LASG unveils Lagos Zen Archery Arena at Teslim Balogun stadium

As part of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s commitment to promoting inclusion, the Lagos State Sports Commission, in collaboration with Zen Archery has unveiled the Lagos Zen Archery Arena at Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere.

Speaking at the unveiling, the Director General of Lagos State Sports Commission, Lekan Fatodu, said the Lagos Zen Archery Arena is a testament to the present administration’s commitment to advancing, supporting, and promoting mass participation in sports.

He said “This facility provides opportunities for different categories of archers to have a befitting space to practice and develop their talents in archery. This attests to possibilities in sports development and to give diversity and inclusivity in sports not just in Lagos but in Nigeria at large”.

Fatodu commended Governor Sanwo-Olu for providing the necessary support and the enabling environment for the magnificent sporting infrastructure, which speaks to Government efforts towards advancing sports to identify, recognize and nurture new talents in archery to give opportunities and show commitment to supporting all sports development in Lagos State. 

Chairman Lagos State Archery Association, Commissioner of Police, Bode Olajuni, commended the efforts of the Lagos State Government through the Lagos State Sports Commission, particularly its Director-General, Mr. Lekan Fatodu and Founder of Zen Archery, Emmanuel Oyeleke, for being the key player in the private sector.

Ojajuni said the Archery Arena will help the state discover talents and allow them to train with clubs nurturing the young generation, especially school children who have interests and those who are at the grassroots.

“This year, we want to run the Judge Course, because the Lagos Zen Archery Competition is coming up this year around June, and we are going to feature at the 2025 National Youth Games coming up in Asaba, Delta State”, he said.

Founder of Zen Archery, Emmanuel Oyeleke said, “It’s a historical event where we have public and private partnerships in the establishment of an archery facility with a collaboration between Zen Archery and Lagos State Sports Commission”.

He added that to have the development of sports to be fast-tracked in Lagos and Nigeria, we need to build facilities to identify talents by creating an enabling environment for sports to thrive.