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Lagos Won’t Abandon Its Grassroots Development Programs, DG Fatodu Insists

 

The Director General of the Lagos State Sports Commission, Hon. Lekan Fatodu, has reiterated the determination of Lagos State to continue its focus on the development of sports from the grassroots by breeding and grooming young talents despite the win at all costs syndromes being perpetrated by many states in the country.

Fatodu insisted that Lagos State won’t lose sight of its developmental initiative as this is the only way to guarantee a sustainable future of not only the state, but the country as a whole.

Lagos, which is popularly known as the Centre of Excellence, has been in the forefront of championing qualitative grassroots sports development programs, targeting breeding and grooming of young athletes and giving them the opportunities and platforms to develop their talents.

This has been the norm since the administration of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to the governments of Babatunde Raji Fashola, Akinwunmi Ambode and the incumbent Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

“This has been our tradition in Lagos. We won’t cut corners because of winning medals. Our outing is not about winning at all costs. This is counterproductive and anti-development.

“Our target in Lagos is to give these athletes an all-round capacity building for them to develop their talents and give them life that will sustain them even after their retirement,” said Hon. Lekan Fatodu, the Director General of the Lagos State Sports Commission while speaking with sports journalists at the ongoing 22nd National Sports Festival in Abeokuta, Ogun State.

Fatodu, a versatile administrator, said that Lagos looks beyond the present to plan for the future, adding that “we are dealing with our athletes with sincerity and transparency, and we believe that states must compete with fairness in competition such as the National Sports Festival and others.

“It’s unfair that we groom and breed athletes while other states come to poach them. I think it is high time sports authority in the country take a look at this issue of poaching and address it,” he said.

On the issue of rewards for the athletes, Fatodu believes the states must be cautious because greater monetisation will have negative effects on the focus of the athletes sooner than we expected.

“You can’t believe that some of the athletes that were poached by other states have been clamouring to come back to Lagos because they saw what we have been doing since I came on board as the Director General of the Sports Commission.

“Mr. Governor listens when we present our issues.

“We are doing a lot to improve the welfare of our athletes and coaches. We are also running an open government that carry everybody along. I am very close to my athletes and coaches because I see them as partners in progress.

“We have been given our athletes greater attention and well-being than before and I am happy that they are responsive to this positively.

“We put in place a reward mechanism for our coaches which we called “DG Gift” which is being awarded based on performance. It has encouraged the coaches to put in their best.

“Within a very short time, we have increased the salaries of the coaches, while we also expose them to training at the National Institute of Sports (NIS) with tailored made courses.

“As Lagos is the face of Corporate Nigeria, we are using this network to empower our athletes and coaches.

“Our focus is on things that are most sustainable and enduring. We know the importance of incentives. We create that bonding between the management, the staff, officials and coaches.

“For this National Sports Festival, our focus is on the areas we have comparative advantage in sports such as boxing, table tennis, combat sports, weightlifting, basketball, deaf athletics and few others. We don’t want to be everywhere, we are focusing on our strength,”Fatodu said.

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Why Serie A Defenders Should Fear Victor Osimhen’s Potential Return, According To Ex-Napoli Star Mario Rui

Victor Osimhen celebrating a goal for Napoli in Serie A.

Why Serie A Defenders Should Fear Victor Osimhen’s Potential Return, According To Ex-Napoli Star Mario Rui

Former Napoli defender Mario Rui has issued a playful but serious warning to Serie A defenders: prepare for chaos if Victor Osimhen ever returns to Italy.
And honestly? He might be right.

The Super Eagles striker has already carved his name into Italian football history — and Rui believes his return would immediately shift the balance of power in the league.

“Victor Can Play For Any Top Club In The World” — Rui

Speaking to Tutto Sport, Rui didn’t mince words about Osimhen’s talent.
During Napoli’s iconic Scudetto-winning season, Rui and Osimhen formed one of the league’s most dangerous attacking connections.

Rui said:

“Look, Victor is someone who can play for any top club in the world. It would be a problem for Serie A if he returned.”

He even singled out Juventus, suggesting Osimhen’s presence alone could drastically transform their squad value and title chances.

Osimhen’s Legendary Impact In Italy

In case anyone forgot — Osimhen wasn’t just good in Serie A… he was historic.

  • 26 goals in the 2022/23 season

  • First African to win the Capocannoniere

  • Surpassed George Weah as Serie A’s highest-scoring African

  • Led Napoli to their first league title in 33 years

He left Italy with 65 Serie A goals in just 108 matches — a monster return for any striker.

Then He Went To Turkey… And Got Even More Lethal

On loan at Galatasaray, Osimhen didn’t slow down.
He exploded.

  • 37 goals

  • 8 assists

  • 41 matches

  • Another league title

  • And a renewed reputation as one of Europe’s deadliest forwards

No wonder Rui believes he can dominate “anywhere in the world.”

What Osimhen’s Potential Return Means For The Global Sports Market

If Osimhen ever steps back into Serie A:

  • Player valuations shift

  • Broadcast attention spikes

  • Sponsorship opportunities multiply

  • Market interest in Nigerian and African players increases

He isn’t just a striker — he’s a sports market catalyst, capable of shaping commercial and competitive landscapes.

And that’s exactly why Sports Market International tracks stars like him closely.
Because players like Osimhen don’t just score goals — they reshape economies.

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Funke Oshonaike Makes History As First Nigerian Appointed To The IOC Athletes’ Commission

Funke Oshonaike celebrating during a table tennis match representing Nigeria

Nigerian sports just bagged another major win — and this time it’s thanks to one of the country’s most enduring legends, Funke Oshonaike.
The seven-time Olympian has officially become the first Nigerian ever appointed to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Athletes’ Commission, cementing her status as one of Africa’s most influential voices in global sports.

This historic announcement came as IOC President Kirsty Coventry appointed five new members to reinforce the commission ahead of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics.

Oshonaike now joins an elite group of global athletes including:

  • Soraya Aghaei Haji Agha (Iran, Badminton)

  • Husein Alireza (Saudi Arabia, Rowing)

  • Cheick Sallah Cissé (Côte d’Ivoire, Taekwondo)

  • Mariana Pajón (Colombia, Cycling)

“I’m Excited, And My Efforts Were Noticed” — Oshonaike Reacts

For Oshonaike, this moment is more than an appointment — it is a dream fulfilled.

In her words:

“I am so excited because during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games campaign, I was impressed by the huge support from my country and athletes across the world.”

She added:

“This appointment confirms that my efforts did not go unnoticed. It has been my dream to impact the sport that has given me the rare opportunity to live well in life.”

And truly, if anyone has earned that seat, it’s Oshonaike — a woman who represented Nigeria in seven consecutive Olympic Games, from Atlanta 1996 to Tokyo 2020. That’s not just consistency; that’s greatness on autopilot.

IOC President Applauds The New Class

IOC President Kirsty Coventry highlighted the importance of the Athletes’ Commission in shaping the Olympic Movement:

“The Athletes’ Commission is essential in making sure athletes remain at the heart of everything we do.”

With the latest appointments, the commission now includes 23 members, representing athletes from across continents and from both summer and winter sports. Impressively, it maintains its gender balance with 13 women and 10 men.

The body ensures that athletes’ voices — from grassroots to the global stage — influence top-level decisions in the Olympic ecosystem.

Why Funke Oshonaike’s Appointment Matters

This milestone hits differently for Nigeria and Africa at large:

  • It elevates Nigeria’s influence in global sports governance.

  • It positions African athletes more strongly in Olympic policymaking.

  • It shows that dedication, longevity, and excellence always get rewarded.

For a legend who has been inspiring young African athletes for nearly three decades, this is the perfect continuation of her legacy.

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Fikayo Tomori Explains Why He Chose England Over Nigeria

Fikayo Tomori in England national team jersey

AC Milan defender Fikayo Tomori has opened up on his decision to represent England on the international stage, explaining that the Nigerian Football Federation never officially contacted him.

Tomori, who initially represented Canada at youth level, later switched allegiance to England, earning five senior caps to date. While several English youth internationals with Nigerian heritage, including Ola Aina, Alex Iwobi, and Ademola Lookman, have opted for the Super Eagles, Tomori’s path led him to the Three Lions.

Tomori On His Decision

Speaking on the Filthy Fellas Podcast, Tomori outlined how England reached out after his stint with Canada’s youth team:

“I was playing for the Canada youth team, but about four months later, the England Academy manager reached out about the possibility of switching over. The next international break, England called me, and I knew I had to go. I thought if I said no, would I ever get a call-up again?”

He added that the transition felt natural because many of his Chelsea teammates, like Tammy Abraham, were already in the England setup.

“It didn’t feel different [from Canada] because all my friends were in there… it felt like Chelsea again,” Tomori said.

Nigeria’s Missed Opportunity

Tomori admitted that if Nigeria had made an approach, he might have considered playing for the Super Eagles.

“If it was Nigeria, I’d have gone,” he stated.

However, he clarified that no official call ever came, leaving him with no real choice.

“Would I have changed to Nigeria from England? I don’t know because at the time, I was playing for Chelsea, so I thought I would play for England. It’s not like I wouldn’t have played there, but they never called me, so I never had a choice to make.”

As Tomori continues to establish himself in Serie A with Milan, he now focuses on securing a spot in England’s 2026 World Cup squad, hoping to make his mark on football’s biggest stage.

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