Sports
College To Sustain Production Of National Athletes
The Vice-Principal, Administration, King’s College, Lagos, Mr Charles Utomi has said that the college will sustain its tradition of discovering sportsmen who will represent the country in international competitions.
Utomi spoke in Lagos, at the end of the college’s annual mini-marathon, tagged “The 2012 Ikoyi Run,’’ last weekend.
He said that the competition,, organised by the college, which the British established in 1909, was to prepare its students for track and field events.
“You can see that a new record has been set in the competition, because an SSS III student returned a time of 33 mins 27secs, as against last year’s winner’s 47 mins, 27secs,’’ he said.
Utomi said that they had taken care of all the logistics to ensure that the college came out tops in national competitions during the year.
He added that the primary mandate of the institution was to graduate all-round students, fully grounded in academics, sports and character.
“In King’s College, the three components go hand in hand because, if you graduate and excel academically without having sports or character, you will hardly be identified as a King’s man,” he said.
Mr Shittu Sualiman, Sports Master/Head, Physical and Health Education Department of the college, said that the Ikoyi Run was to sensitise the community to its yearly inter-house sports.
Sulaiman said that the finals of the competition, slated to hold next weekend, would see students at the junior, intermediate and senior categories competing in various sports.
“We are happy that new stars are emerging from competitions like this where talents are identified.
“We are also expecting to see more of them in our upcoming competitions because that will mean that we are still on course in the area of producing athletes for the country,’’ he said.
The winner of the race, Azeez Tijani, said he was happy to have set a new record, adding that it was determination that saw him through.
Tijani, who is also the games prefect and captain of the college’s football team, said that the victory did not come to him as a surprise because he had been training for the competition.
“I have been doing a lot of training with my team-mates for today’s competition and it paid off for both me and the others who came second and third respectively.
“I am happy to have set a new record during the 18km race, as well as for the recognition it has fetched me,’’ he said.
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.