Babajide Sanwo-Olu has inaugurated the board of the Lagos State Sports Trust Fund, urging members to prioritise grassroots and school sports development across the state’s divisions.
Speaking at the ceremony held at Lagos House in Marina on Wednesday, the governor charged the newly appointed board to mobilise funding and strengthen sports institutions for both present and future generations.
“The mandate is very straightforward,” Sanwo-Olu said. “Use your contact, skill, professional background and reach to help support funding in sports and assist in setting up robust institutions in Lagos State.”
He also encouraged the board to channel resources into grassroots competitions, school sports programmes and the rehabilitation of existing facilities, many of which were previously funded by the government but remain at varying stages of completion.
Sanwo-Olu described the Trust Fund as a quasi-government body capable of attracting private sector investment. “There are organisations that want to support but prefer not to engage directly with the government. This body can bridge that gap,” he added.
The board is chaired by Enitan Oshodi, a former Lagos State Commissioner for Sports and Youth Development and current president of the International Table Tennis Federation. Olaposi Agunbiade will serve as Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer.
Other members include Olabode Agoro, Adeniyi Adedokun Adekoya, Gbolahan Onibuje, Jubril Gawat, Kikelomo Bolarinwa, Olayemi Sarumi, Lekan Fatodu, Moshood Ajide and Engr. Ibrahim Adigun, alongside the Chairman of the Chairmen of LGs/LCDAs and the Chairman of the Lagos State Sports Commission.
Oshodi said the board’s immediate focus would be to establish sustainable funding pathways to support athletes and improve sporting infrastructure in Nigeria’s commercial hub.
“The Lagos State Government is spending a lot of money on sports, but it is never enough in a megacity like Lagos with over 20 million people,” he said. “We need facilities to support athletes, and we all know the talent that abounds here.”
He added that while the Lagos State Sports Commission had made significant progress, greater collaboration with private investors would be crucial.
“The greatest sporting nation in the world does not rely on government funding in the United States. It is driven by the private sector,” Oshodi said. “Our main target is private sector support, and with the capacity on this board, we believe we can achieve success in the short term while building for long-term development.”
