Lagos State has intensified preparations for the maiden edition of the National Intermediate Games by organising a Secondary School Sports Fiesta to discover talented athletes who will represent the state at the championship later this year.
The open trials, held at the Tolu Secondary School Complex in Ajegunle, attracted students from public and private secondary schools competing for places in Athletics, Chess and Scrabble.
Director of School Sports at the Lagos State Sports Commission (LSSC), Dr. Oluyomi Oluwasanmi, said the fiesta forms part of several talent identification programmes aimed at selecting the best Under-18 athletes to represent Lagos at the games.
She explained that outstanding athletes discovered during the trials would be integrated into the state’s existing Under-18 teams for further screening before the final squad is selected.
According to Oluwasanmi, the initiative is designed to identify hidden talents across the state’s school system and strengthen Lagos’ pool of athletes ahead of the National Intermediate Games scheduled for October.
She added that additional trials would be conducted across the state before intensive training begins, with the goal of assembling formidable teams in all approved sports before September.
Also speaking, Director of Sports Development at the Lagos State Sports Commission, Mr. Nunayon Travih, urged the students to seize the opportunity by showcasing their abilities and giving their best throughout the selection process.
Travih said the talent hunt, initiated by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and the leadership of the commission under Lekan Fatodu, is aimed at combining outstanding school athletes with those already identified through sports associations to build strong teams capable of excelling at the maiden National Intermediate Games.
