The Lagos State Sports Commission has moved to strengthen measures aimed at protecting young athletes after the Commission’s leadership engaged a young sportswoman and her mother over concerns surrounding her participation in a crucial sporting engagement.
The Commission’s Director General, Mr Lekan Fatodu, led the meeting with the athlete and her mother, seeking to understand the circumstances surrounding the matter and provide immediate support.
The engagement also provided an opportunity for the mother to acknowledge the Lagos State Sports Commission’s role in supporting her daughter’s sporting ambitions and those of other young athletes across the state.
She, however, urged the Commission to intensify its engagement with other government institutions to ensure that administrative processes do not become obstacles to the development of young talents, particularly girls.
Responding, Fatodu assured the family that the Commission would immediately reach out to the government entity involved to prevent a similar situation from occurring in the future.
He also disclosed plans for broader measures, including the activation of a stronger policy framework to protect young athletes, improved communication between the Commission, parents and athletes, and increased awareness among government ministries, departments and agencies on the importance of supporting emerging talents.
“The dream of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu is to see young talents being discovered in Lagos and nurtured to full potential,” Fatodu said.
“So, any action by anyone or an entity that seeks to negate that lofty ambition for youth empowerment through sports will be a massive disservice to efforts on talent development.”
The Director General stressed that the state’s sports development agenda is centred on discovering promising athletes and providing them with the environment and opportunities required to reach their full potential.
The Commission said the immediate intervention demonstrates its commitment to responding quickly whenever young athletes encounter challenges that could affect their sporting development.
Fatodu’s assurances also signal a broader effort to improve coordination between the Sports Commission and other government institutions, ensuring that talented young people are not unnecessarily prevented from participating in opportunities that could shape their careers.
For Lagos, the message is clear: talent development must remain a collective responsibility, and no administrative barrier should be allowed to derail the dreams of the state’s young athletes.
