Fresh from winning a historic bronze medal in the men’s 100m at the 2026 Commonwealth Games, Nigeria’s Kayinsola Ajayi has turned the spotlight away from himself and onto the community that shaped his journey.
The 21-year-old sprinter, who became the first Nigerian man in two decades to win a Commonwealth Games medal in the blue-riband event, says he hopes his success will inspire young people from Ikorodu and other communities across Nigeria to dream big.
“It doesn’t matter where you come from. You can do it,” Ajayi told PREMIUM TIMES after receiving his bronze medal in Glasgow on Wednesday.
His message comes at a time when Lagos is placing renewed emphasis on grassroots sports development.
Under the leadership of Director General Lekan Fatodu, the Lagos State Sports Commission (LSSC) has embarked on an ambitious reform agenda focused on grassroots sports development, talent identification, athlete welfare, and the creation of stronger pathways from schools and local communities to elite competition.
