Lagos, Nigeria: The Director-General of the Lagos State Sports Commission, Lekan Fatodu, has unveiled a bold reform agenda aimed at overhauling the state’s sports ecosystem.
Speaking at a media briefing on Friday, Fatodu outlined a comprehensive strategy focused on transparency, athlete development, and grassroots renewal.
He noted that the vision would combine reforms, structure, and sustainability, stressing that the state’s agenda targets grassroots renewal and a roadmap for athlete revitalisation.
Fatodu said reforms were overdue, adding that Lagos has long been a source of pride and unity to the nation through sports excellence and achievements.
According to him, Lagos must embrace reforms that strengthen governance, enforce transparency, and streamline systems to meet global standards in sports administration.
“Until now, there has never been a central database to identify athletes and monitor their performance,” Fatodu said at a media briefing in Lagos.
He explained that impostors and ageing athletes had exploited this gap, using it as a “meal ticket,” which the state would now close through reforms.
To address this, he said an online portal is being introduced for senior athletes’ enlistment, monitoring, and performance evaluation across all sporting disciplines.
Fatodu added that the state would create wider opportunities for partnerships with corporate bodies, NGOs, social clubs, and individuals to invest in infrastructure and athlete development.
He stressed that the reforms are designed for inclusivity, measurable impact, and sustainability, ensuring Lagos sets the pace for sports administration in Africa.
On grassroots sports, Fatodu said greatness begins with strong foundations, with schools at the heart of talent discovery.
He said Lagos would work with teachers, parents, and clubs to strengthen participation and expand facility access across all divisions of the state.
“Coaches will be better trained and supported to ensure every child in Lagos has a clear pathway to national and international sporting success,” he added.
On the athletes’ roadmap, Fatodu said they remain the core of the sports ecosystem and must be supported beyond competition to secure careers and futures.
He revealed plans to introduce biometric data capture for proper profiling, facility access, and career sustainability programmes for life after competition.
“Athletes would also benefit from pathways into coaching, administration, and related professions, with assessments ensuring discipline and fairness,” Fatodu noted.
He said athletes who show no measurable improvement after three consecutive National Sports Festivals will be disengaged, but supported with transition systems.
To give structure to reforms, Fatodu announced the Team Lagos Reform and Transition Policy (TLRTP), setting benchmarks for athletes and coaches under transparent protocols.
The policy, he said, will also provide exit systems, including skills acquisition, entrepreneurship training, and job placement support, ensuring no athlete or coach is left behind.
On restructuring coaching, Fatodu said contracts will be tied to Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), with annual renewal subject to measurable targets and evaluation timelines.
He said: “Continuing education and certification will be mandatory, while assistant coaches will be promoted through a structured development pathway supported by local and international institutions.”
He added that these measures will strengthen the talent and technical pipeline, ensuring a steady inflow of athletes into the state’s sports system.
The state, he said, will launch Team Lagos Open Trials 2025 across all IBILE divisions to recruit new athletes and discover future stars.
Fatodu also revealed that sports talent hubs will be mapped across Lagos to ensure equal access and representation.
On monitoring and evaluation, he said a Sports Officer would be appointed as Athletes’ Liaison Officer, preferably an ex-athlete, to serve as a bridge with the Commission.
He added that a Team Lagos Monitoring Unit (TLMU) will track KPIs, conduct reviews, and publish an Annual State of Team Lagos Report.
Fatodu reaffirmed that the Lagos State Senior Team remains dissolved, warning that no individual or group should parade themselves under that capacity until further notice.
He said plans are underway to reconstitute a new team with renewed discipline, stronger energy, and competitive spirit.He urged aspiring athletes to seize the opportunity and register at the Commission’s online portal: https://lssc.lg.gov.ng/athlete-registration/.