The Lagos State Sports Trust Fund has intensified its grassroots sports development efforts with the distribution of sporting equipment to all 57 Local Government Areas and Local Council Development Areas across the state.
The equipment was distributed on Tuesday at the BOS Hall, Lagos Television Broadcasting Complex, Agidingbi, Ikeja, with each LG and LCDA receiving a complete set of sporting facilities.
The items include equipment for table tennis, basketball, football, volleyball and athletics, as well as Scrabble and dictionary sets, chess and ludo boards, balls, nets and fully equipped first-aid boxes.
Chairman of the Lagos State Sports Trust Fund, Enitan Oshodi, said the initiative was designed to revive grassroots competitions while creating opportunities for young athletes to discover and develop their talents.
“We are not merely handing out table tennis boards, basketball stands and hoops, balls, nets, Scrabble and dictionary sets, chess and ludo boards, fully kitted first-aid boxes and other sports equipment; we are planting the seeds of future Olympians, Paralympians and world champions in every ward, every street and every community in Lagos State,” Oshodi said.
The Executive Secretary of the LSSTF also acknowledged the Lagos State Government and its partners for their continued support of grassroots sports programmes.
Representing Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Commissioner for Youth and Social Development Mobolaji Ogunlende urged the beneficiaries to use the equipment to revive healthy competition and identify emerging talents.
“Lagos is blessed. The next Victor Osimhen, the next Tobi Amusan, the next Anthony Joshua will not be discovered in Europe; he will be discovered in our LGs/LCDAs,” Ogunlende said.
He commended the sports trust fund for the intervention and noted that the state government would continue supporting initiatives aimed at developing young athletes.
Ogunlende said the latest distribution was the second phase of the trust fund’s grassroots intervention this year, following the provision of sporting equipment to 1,020 public primary schools and the rehabilitation of Rowe Park Sports Centre in Yaba.
The latest initiative forms part of Lagos State’s broader strategy to strengthen grassroots sports, improve access to sporting facilities and create pathways for young athletes to progress from community competitions to elite-level sport.
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