LSSTF inspires the next generation of Lagos athletes

Femi Oyegbile and Ebele John have always had a passion for sports, but for years, they lacked the opportunities to showcase their talents. That changed in 2024 when their school, Iwerekun Community Senior High School in Lakowe, benefited from the Lagos State Sports Trust Fund (LSSTF) through the Education District. Today, both students proudly represent their school in football and basketball.

Despite not having a proper basketball court, John and her classmates have improvised with limited facilities to develop their skills. Their determination and creativity have fueled their dream of playing for the school team.

Iwerekun Community Senior High School is one of 644 public secondary schools in Lagos State that have received sports equipment from LSSTF. Additionally, 1,020 public primary schools across the 20 Local Government Education Authorities (LGEAs) have benefited from LSSTF’s support over the past eight years. The initiative has also reached five technical colleges and five state tertiary institutions, ensuring broader access to sporting opportunities.

Since its inception in 2017, LSSTF has raised funds for sports development using a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model. This approach has produced positive results, with corporate firms and individuals supporting the agency’s mission to improve school sports in Lagos.

Chief Kessington Adebutu, Sterling Bank, LASACO, Guinness, and other partners have consistently responded to LSSTF’s initiatives, allowing the agency to assist more schools across the state. From students to games masters and principals, LSSTF has sparked interest in sports by providing equipment annually since 2019.

For Inioluwa Agbaje of Mende Junior High School, the donation of a table tennis board ignited a new passion: “After our school received the table tennis board, I began to fall in love with the sport, even though I didn’t know how to play initially. With help from my schoolmates and our games master, I’ve started improving. Having the equipment has encouraged many of us to love sports, especially during break periods. I look forward to receiving more equipment and hope LSSTF can construct basketball and volleyball courts so we can use the balls donated to us.”

At State Primary School in Agege, pupils eagerly gather for indoor games like ludo, scrabble, and chess whenever their games mistress, Olasimbo Idris, brings them out. Some prefer table tennis, while others form groups to play different games. Idris praised LSSTF’s support but appealed for more facilities: “Since we received the equipment, pupils’ interest in sports has increased. Many now have the chance to play on a standard table tennis board. We hope to sustain their interest with more equipment, especially a standard basketball court.”

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Excited by the impact of LSSTF’s work, Executive Secretary Olaposi Agunbiade praised Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for being the fund’s main supporter, while also acknowledging the contributions of Chief Adebutu, Sterling Bank, LASACO, Guinness, and LIRS. “We remain grateful to our main supporter, the amiable and sports-loving Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, as well as our private supporters. With more support, we can do even more. In 2026, we plan to increase our donations, as we’ve discovered that many schools lack facilities like basketball, volleyball, and handball courts.”

Agunbiade also highlighted Lagos’ success at the last National Youth Games in Delta, where the state topped the medal table, surpassing perennial champions Delta: “In Lagos, we focus on discovering and developing athletes. This was evident in our victory at the National Youth Games, where we beat the host state, Delta, to clinch the overall title for the first time. This inspires us to seek more support from well-meaning individuals and corporate bodies.”

Among the equipment donated by LSSTF to schools across the state are table tennis boards, basketball hoops with stands, running vests and pants, spikes for jumps and throws, volleyballs, relay batons, chess boards, scrabble boards and dictionaries, first aid kits, dart boards with arrows, boxing headgear, judo mats, taekwondo kicking pads, cricket helmets, and swimming caps and goggles.

Beyond providing equipment, LSSTF has also completed the renovation of the Olympic-size 50m swimming pool at Mobolaji Johnson Sports Centre, Rowe Park, Yaba, and has handed it over to the Lagos State Sports Commission (LSSC).

In its inclusiveness drive, the agency has supported the Para Soccer Association of Lagos, helping to stage their programmes over the past three years.

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