By Ado Salisu
The National Sports Commission (NSC) is finalising major technical and operational arrangements for the maiden National Intermediate Games, EKO 2026, following the approval of key measures on athlete eligibility, talent identification, competition, accommodation, transportation, medical services and digital Games management.
The decisions were reached at a meeting of the Joint Technical Committee held at the Sam Shonibare Community Development Centre in Surulere, Lagos.
The meeting was chaired by the Director-General of the National Sports Commission and Chairman of the Main Organising Committee, Hon. Bukola Olopade.
The committee comprises representatives of the Main Organising Committee, MOC Secretariat, National Sports Federations, participating states and the FCT, zonal coordinators, technical sub-committees and the Lagos State Local Organising Committee.
The meeting also included an inspection of competition and non-competition facilities as part of final preparations for the Games.
In his remarks, Hon. Olopade reaffirmed the importance of the National Intermediate Games as a critical addition to Nigeria’s sports development pathway, particularly in creating a structured bridge between grassroots participation and elite-level competition.
“Our aspiration is that this Games would provide an important platform for talent identification and athlete progression, while ensuring that young athletes with potential are identified early and provided with opportunities to develop into future national team athletes,” Olopade said.
A major resolution of the meeting was the confirmation that participation in EKO 2026 will be restricted to athletes born between January 1, 2008, and September 30, 2011.
The MOC Secretariat was directed to harmonise the age provision across the Technical Manual and all official Games documents and issue the necessary clarification.
The committee also placed strong emphasis on the integrity of the Games through comprehensive age and identity verification. All participating athletes will be required to undergo prescribed verification procedures, including NIMC verification, approved documentary requirements and physical screening.
EKO 2026 to Serve as Talent Identification Platform
The Games will serve as a major talent identification platform for Nigeria. Athletes identified through EKO 2026 will be integrated into a structured national athlete-development pathway.
Athletes discovered at the Games will be combined with identified diaspora athletes to form the core of Nigeria’s Invited Junior Athletes national team for the National Sports Festival in Enugu.
The committee further affirmed that athletes identified through the Games are national assets and called on participating states to cooperate with the National Sports Commission and National Sports Federations in releasing identified athletes for approved national assignments and subsequent development programmes.
Changes to Sports Programme
The Joint Technical Committee also approved several adjustments to the sports programme.
The 5,000 metres has been approved as an official athletics medal event, while weightlifting medals will be awarded based on athletes’ overall results in each approved weight category. Separate medals will not be awarded for the Snatch and Clean & Jerk components.
The Mixed Team event in Taekwondo was removed from the official programme, while Netball and Teqball will be conducted as demonstration sports and will not form part of the official medal programme.
Accommodation and Transportation
On Games operations, the committee directed strict compliance with accreditation timelines, stressing that only duly accredited athletes, officials and authorised Games personnel will have access to competition venues, operational areas and approved Games Village facilities.
The meeting noted that 16 hostels comprising 38 buildings, with approximately 12,800 beds, have been identified to meet the accommodation requirements of the Games.
The Lagos State LOC was directed to ensure that the facilities have adequate security, water, electricity, standby power, cleaning, maintenance and fumigation before the arrival of contingents.
In line with the welfare of young athletes, the committee adopted a decentralised catering model designed to improve efficiency and reduce delays associated with movement across different geographical clusters of Lagos.
Breakfast and dinner will be provided at designated accommodation locations, while lunch will be decentralised to competition venues.
Two meal options will be provided for each meal, with caterers required to comply with food safety, hygiene and health certification standards.
The LOC was also directed to operationalise the Games’ tri-modal transportation system, incorporating road, rail and water transportation where appropriate to facilitate the movement of athletes, officials, technical personnel, equipment and other Games personnel.
Medical and Digital Systems
Medical and public health arrangements were also strengthened, with qualified medical personnel to be deployed at competition venues and designated accommodation facilities.
The UNILAG Medical Centre will serve as the primary referral point, while ambulance services will be available at competition venues, with arrangements for specialised referrals where necessary.
Participating states and the FCT are required to nominate Chief Medical Officers and complete all necessary medical assessments and health screenings.
The Games Medical and Public Health Teams will continue working with relevant Lagos State authorities on food safety, water, sanitation, waste disposal, disease prevention and emergency response.
Following the facility inspection, the LOC was directed to complete all outstanding remedial works and venue requirements ahead of the commencement of the Games.
National Sports Federations and Technical Committees were equally tasked with concluding all outstanding sport-specific technical requirements, competition schedules, equipment needs and operational arrangements.
In a significant step towards modernising the administration of the Games, the official EKO 2026 website, mobile application and QR code-enabled systems are to be deployed before the commencement of the Games.
The digital platforms will support accreditation, results management, data administration and communication with athletes, officials, stakeholders and the media.
The committee expressed appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his commitment to Nigerian youth and investment in sports development.
It also commended the Lagos State Government and the Local Organising Committee for their commitment, infrastructure investment and cooperation towards hosting the historic maiden edition of the National Intermediate Games.
The committee equally appreciated the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory for the FCT’s collaboration and partnership with the National Sports Commission, particularly its commitment to sponsoring and supporting its contingent to participate in the Games.
The meeting further acknowledged the contributions of the National Sports Commission, National Sports Federations, participating states, the FCT and all stakeholders towards the successful organisation of EKO 2026.
In a national charge, the Joint Technical Committee called on all stakeholders to work collectively towards ensuring that the maiden National Intermediate Games establishes a strong and sustainable foundation for talent identification, athlete development, national unity and the future growth of the competition.
The meeting was attended by the Chairman of the LOC and Deputy Chief of Staff to the Lagos State Governor, Mr Sam Egube; LOC Co-Chairman and Director-General of the Lagos State Sports Commission, Mr Lekan Fatodu; Chairman, Media Relations and Publicity Sub-Committee, Mr Gbenga Omotosho; Chairman, Digital Media and Fan Engagement, Mr Segun Fafore; Games Consultant, Dr Kweku Tandoh; and Senior Special Assistant to the President, Chief Adegboye Adeyinka Anthony, among other stakeholders.
The communiqué was signed by Hon. Bukola Olopade, Director-General of the National Sports Commission and Chairman of the Main Organising Committee, and issued in Surulere, Lagos State, on Saturday, September 5, 2026.