Sports
Basketballers Laud Lagos Grassroots Sports Dev
Some Lagos-based
basketball players has lauded the Amuwo-Odofin Local Government in Lagos for providing a sports centre where they sharpened their skills.
They told newsmen in Lagos the provision of the Suki Grassroots Sports Centre in FESTAC Town had made them to be training regularly.
The players said that replication of the facility in other parts of Lagos State would facilitate sports development.
Yinka Oyesanmi of Trinity Basketball Academy, FESTAC Town, said that regular training at the centre had improved his shooting skills.
“ I am able to accurately make three-pointer shots with ease,” he said.
Oyesanmi said that an athlete needed to practice on a regular basis to be able to become a professional.
“The centre has made it possible for aspiring athletes to make their dream come true by training regularly,’’ he said.
George Olomi of the Hawks Basketball Academy, Satellite Town, said that training at the centre had made him a better player.
“I come to the centre to train on a regular basis because I will like to improve on my dribbling skills to be relevant in the basketball academy I attend.
“It is necessary for a basketball player to know how to dribble appropriately to be able to make way for the forward pointers to dunk the ball,” he said.
Olomi commended the Chairman of Amuwo-Odofin Local Government Area, Mr Ayodele Adewale, for providing the sports facility for talent development.
Jinadu Akande of the Best Basketball Academy, FESTAC Town, told NAN that the centre had also afforded him the opportunity to watch training of footballers and martial art athletes.
Akande advised other local governments to emulate Amuwo-Odofin by providing sports facilities in their areas to develop talents at the grassroots.
The Bayelsa State government, yesterday, announced that the marathon will be held on Saturday, April 4, 2026.
The inaugural race is owned by the Bayelsa State Government and will be organised by Nilayo Sports Management Limited, a sports management company.
Under the theme “The Reveal,” the race represents a bold unveiling of Bayelsa’s immense human and cultural potential to the international community, inviting the world to witness the resilience, grit, and talent rooted in the heart of the Niger Delta.
According to the organisers, the race will be flagged off at 9:30 a.m., at the Opolo Roundabout, guiding participants through a carefully designed 10-kilometre route that highlights the scenic beauty and vibrant atmosphere of Yenagoa.
The course will culminate at Peace Park Square, where athletes will cross the finish line into a grand celebration of endurance, unity, and community spirit.
To elevate the experience for runners and spectators alike, the finish venue will host a high-energy post-race concert featuring performances from top A-list artistes, blending sport and entertainment in a festival-style atmosphere.
The organisers directed all registered participants to collect their race bibs and kits at the designated Peace Park Square between March 30 and April 3, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. daily.
The race, according to them, is currently on track for World Athletics accreditation, underscoring the commitment of both the Bayelsa State Government and Nilayo Sports Management Limited to delivering an event that meets the highest global standards.
The Director General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Bukola Olopade, on Friday continued the Commission’s nationwide appreciation tour with a visit to Abeokuta, where outstanding junior athlete, Majekodunmi Afusat Bisola, was presented with a cheque of N3 million.
The presentation forms part of the NSC’s initiative to recognise and reward exceptional junior athletes who distinguished themselves in 2025 and contributed significantly to Nigeria’s medal haul.
Majekodunmi delivered an impressive run of performances on the track. At the last edition of the National Sports Festival, she stormed to gold in the 400m and the 4x400m relay. She replicated the double triumph at the Confederation of African Athletics (CAA) Junior Championship, in Abeokuta, before emerging as one of the standout stars at the African Youth Games in Luanda, Angola.
Speaking during the presentation, Olopade explained that the Commission deemed it necessary to extend financial appreciation to grassroots athletes after elite performers had earlier received grants running into thousands of dollars.
“A few weeks ago, after paying grants to our elite athletes, we agreed tthere was a need to also appreciate these young, budding talents who made Nigeria proud last year,” he said.
He disclosed that of the 376 medals recorded by Nigerian athletes in 2025, more than 200 were won by grassroots talents, underscoring the importance of sustained investment in youth development.