The National Sports Commission (NSC) chose Lagos State to host the inaugural National Intermediate Games, EKO 2026, because of its established grassroots sports development structure, sporting infrastructure and proven capacity to organise major sporting events.
The Games, conceived under the Commission’s Renewed Hope Initiative for Nigeria’s Sports Economy (RHINSE), are designed to bridge the gap between grassroots participation and elite sports by creating a structured pathway for athletes aged 15 to 18.
According to the NSC, the age bracket represents a critical stage in athlete development, when promising young talents require proper competition, monitoring and support to progress into the elite level.
Beyond competition, the National Intermediate Games are expected to provide a platform for talent identification, performance assessment and the transition of emerging athletes into Nigeria’s high-performance sports system.
Director-General of the NSC, Bukola Olopade, said Lagos was the natural choice to host the maiden edition because of the state’s ability to develop athletes from school and grassroots competitions into elite performers.
