Lagos to host Nigeria’s first Intermediate Games in 2026

Lagos to host Nigeria’s first Intermediate Games in 2026.

By Flycable News

Lagos State has been confirmed as the host of Nigeria’s first-ever National Intermediate Games, scheduled to take place in 2026, according to an official announcement by the National Sports Commission, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.

The new multi-sport event is one of the flagship initiatives under the NSC’s RHINSE programme, designed to identify, monitor, and develop sporting talent among athletes aged between 16 and 19 according to the NSC.

It aims to create a structured pathway that bridges the gap between grassroots competitions and elite-level sports in the country.

Speaking on the significance of the new initiative, the Chairman of the NSC, Shehu Dikko, said Nigeria must put in place a sustainable model for talent discovery and development if it hopes to achieve lasting success at international competitions.

“We are determined to have a sustainable podium success at international competitions but it will only come with having the right structure that can aid elite success, and the Intermediate Games will strengthen our goals,” Dikko said.

He added that the foundation of every long-term sports development strategy lies in a functional grassroots system, which the commission is now pursuing with renewed focus.

Also speaking on the development, the Director General of the NSC, Bukola Olopade, described the creation of the Intermediate Games as an intentional effort to address some of the persistent challenges in Nigeria’s grassroots sports system, particularly those relating to athlete progression and age categorisation.

“With the National Youth Games and the National Sports Festival fully established, the Intermediate Games will help bridge the gap and give better clarity to our grassroots development drive. It will also help our young athletes to have better preparations before they move to the elite level,” Olopade said.

He expressed delight at Lagos State’s willingness to host the historic maiden edition, noting that the event would mark a major milestone in Nigeria’s sporting history.

“We are very excited that Lagos State has graciously agreed to host the first edition, which will go down as a major milestone in the illustrious sporting history of our country,” he added.

The 2026 National Intermediate Games will serve as a developmental platform for athletes transitioning from youth-level competitions such as the National Youth Games to senior-level events like the National Sports Festival, providing a continuous and coordinated pathway for future champions.