By Hunvio Elizabeth Lagos State took another decisive step in its push to harness youth potential on Tuesday as the Commissioner for Youth...
By Hunvio Elizabeth
Lagos State took another decisive step in its push to harness youth potential on Tuesday as the Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Hon Mobolaji Ogunlende RAK, carried out an on the spot inspection of two major grassroots sports facilities while dropping strong hints of a much bigger project planned for the Badagry axis.
The inspection covered the newly completed Sanwo Olu Mini Stadium at Sura on Lagos Island and the Alade Pitch in Alimosho. Both projects are being developed through a public private partnership involving technology firm TECNO and executed by SBI Media. Officials say the facilities are designed to serve as modern sports hubs that will drive early talent discovery and youth engagement throughout 2026 and beyond.
Standing on the astroturf pitch beneath the Sura bridge Ogunlende described the projects as more than recreational spaces. He said they represent a deliberate strategy by the state government to redirect young people from the streets into productive pathways through sports and the creative economy.
According to the commissioner under the leadership of Governor Babajide Sanwo Olu the state is focused on converting idle urban spaces into functional centres where young people can train compete and dream bigger. He noted that with the right facilities and support many Lagos youths have the capacity to become global stars in football athletics music and film.
The hubs feature eight aside professional astroturf pitches modern lighting systems for night training and biometric data capture points. These tools will allow the Lagos State Sports Commission to profile and monitor promising talents from the grassroots level and connect them to structured development pathways.
The most significant moment of the visit came during a press interaction when Ogunlende revealed that the Sura and Alade projects are pilot schemes for a much larger initiative. He confirmed that a Creative and Sporting Village is being planned for the Badagry Division and is currently in the procurement stage for the 2026 budget cycle.
He described Badagry as the heartbeat of Lagos cultural heritage and said the planned facility would be a multi purpose hub where sports film music and digital creativity would converge. While he did not disclose the exact location he assured residents that the project is a priority and would be designed to reflect the cultural and creative strength of the area.
Also present during the inspection was the Director General of the Lagos State Sports Commission Lekan Fatodu. He explained that the state is introducing clear performance benchmarks for coaches and programme managers at the hubs. According to him the goal is to ensure that talents discovered at the grassroots are properly mentored and guided into national teams professional clubs and creative industries.
Fatodu added that the state recent eight point four billion naira investment in the youth and creative economy provides the resources needed to maintain the facilities and run world class programmes that deliver real outcomes rather than symbolic projects.
Youth reactions at the Sura facility were overwhelmingly positive. Many expressed excitement at having access to a standard pitch in an area once known for makeshift playing grounds. A nineteen year old striker Segun said the new facility has changed how young players see their future noting that what was once a sandy space under a bridge now feels like a professional environment.
For residents of Badagry the commissioner remarks have generated fresh optimism. The proposed Creative and Sporting Village is seen as a potential game changer for youth development tourism and cultural expression in the division.
As Lagos continues to invest in youth centred infrastructure Tuesday inspection sends a clear signal that the state is serious about building sustainable platforms where talent can be discovered nurtured and projected onto the national and global stage.
Photo Credit: BadagryToday
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