LAGOS BETS ON FUTURE WITH TEENAGE SWIMMERS AT GATEWAY GAMES
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By: Motunrayo Aniwura
Lagos State showcased its commitment to youth development at the ongoing Gateway Games 2024 by fielding a team of teenage swimmers in the women’s 4x200m freestyle relay event.
The quartet Daniella Akanbi, Olutise Nedd, Nesomagh Nwizu, and Funmilayo Demehin all still in secondary school, represented Team Lagos against older and more experienced opponents, some twice their age. Despite the tough competition, the young athletes delivered an impressive performance, finishing with a time of 11:26.28.
Their performance resonated deeply with the Gateway Games LOC, spectators and sports administrators and stakeholders alike, symbolising Lagos State’s deliberate commitment to long-term talent grooming. Rather than focusing solely on instant victories, the Lagos
State Sports Commission has taken a strategic approach, prioritising early exposure, technical development, and the psychological readiness of its young athletes.
Commenting on the performance, the Director-General of the Lagos State Sports Commission, Mr. Lekan Fatodu, praised the swimmers and reiterated the Commission’s developmental philosophy. “We are not just here to win medals, we’re here to build champions,” Fatodu remarked,
“By giving these young athletes a platform at this level, we’re planting seeds that will blossom in a few years. It’s about grooming, consistent exposure, and ensuring they grow with the confidence and resilience needed to succeed nationally and globally.”
He added that Lagos remains committed to sustaining this pipeline of talent across all sports, ensuring that athletes are not just discovered but properly nurtured to reach their full potential.
The Lagos State Sports Commission has been intentional in creating opportunities for young talents to gain competitive exposure, even before they reach their peak performance years.
Observers note that such initiatives position the state as a leader in sports talent development in Nigeria.
Meanwhile, the Coach of the Lagos female volleyball team, Taiwo Oladipupo, has stated that no team is unbeatable, following his side’s convincing victory over Nasarawa in their second match at the ongoing 22nd National Sports Festival in Ogun State.
According to Oladipupo, the team stuck to tactical instructions and maintained control from the outset, showing improved consistency on the court. He noted that the game was easier for them because many of the errors from their first match had been corrected, and the
players significantly raised their level of performance, resulting in a straight-sets victory over Kaduna.
Likewise, in basketball, Team Lagos stunned Oyo 55-46 at the Alake Sports Centre while the male handball team did it again by defeating Osun 29-18 after edging Sokoto 25-24 in their opening game.
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