The Lagos State Sports Trust Fund (LSSTF) distributed sports equipment to 1,664 public schools across the state on June 20, 2025. The gesture, according to LSSTF, is an annual effort aimed at boosting sports development at the grassroots level.
The event, which was held at the Adeyemi Bero Auditorium in Alausa, Ikeja, saw the schools getting table tennis boards, running vests and pants, spike shoes, footballs, basketballs, volleyballs, chess sets with clocks, scrabble boards with dictionaries, draught boards, tennis rackets, and fully stocked first aid kits.
These items were handed over to the Tutor-Generals/Permanent Secretaries representing the six educational districts in Lagos. The beneficiaries of the initiative included 1,020 primary and 644 secondary schools from the six educational districts, as well as 20 Local Council Education Authorities. Speaking at the event, Lagos State Head of Service Bode Agoro described the initiative as a landmark achievement in Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s administration’s efforts to enhance sports development and excellence in schools.
“In the last six years, Governor Sanwo-Olu’s administration has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to improving school infrastructure, which ultimately enhances the teaching and learning environment in our public schools,” Agoro said. He emphasised the critical role of sports in the holistic development of children, noting that sports foster physical well-being and instil essential life skills such as teamwork, discipline, and resilience.
Represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Land Bureau, Kamar Olowosago, Agoro reiterated the administration’s dedication to creating an enabling environment for talent discovery and development. He highlighted that the LSSTF initiative aligns with the THEMES+ agenda, which focuses on economic growth, education, health, and social welfare. Former Commissioner for Youth and Sports Wahid Enitan Oshodi, who served as the special guest, commended the LSSTF for equipping schools with modern sports gear.
He noted that the initiative would not only reduce youth restiveness but also spark students’ interest in sports. In his remarks, Olaposi Agunbiade, Executive Secretary of LSSTF, expressed gratitude to Governor Sanwo-Olu for his steadfast support of grassroots sports development. He also acknowledged the support of the Lagos State Lotteries and Gaming Authority, Lagos State Internal Revenue Service (LIRS), and Sterling Bank PLC while calling for more corporate partnerships to sustain the initiative.