EKO 2026 to Reveal States' Commitment to Sports Development

The inaugural National Intermediate Games, branded EKO 2026, is scheduled to occur in Lagos from October 1 to 15, featuring over 14,000 athletes aged 15 to 18 competing in 28 sports. Yusuf Alli, a Nigerian Olympian and member of the organizing body, stated that the event will serve as a litmus test for states' commitment to grassroots sports development.

He emphasized that the competition will expose states that rely on athlete poaching to enhance their medal counts, contrasting them with states like Edo and Lagos, which he believes train athletes effectively. The focus of EKO 2026 will shift from merely accumulating medals to identifying states with sustainable athlete development pipelines.

Talent scouts will be present to monitor and track promising athletes who may not currently excel but show potential for future success. Alli concluded that the success of EKO 2026 will be measured not by the final medal tally but by the number of young talents identified and developed for senior competition.