Lagos sports commission DG meets athlete, mother over missed tournament

The Lagos State Sports Commission has stepped in to assist a young squash player, Mariam Oshodi, who missed a regional tournament after her mother's shop, containing her sports equipment, was allegedly locked by officials from Surulere Local Government. Mariam, representing Lagos State in the U-15 category, and her mother, Kafayat Oshodi, met with the Commission's Director-General, Lekan Fatodu, following a viral video in which Kafayat expressed her frustration over the situation.

Kafayat alleged that while she was away, her daughter took some of her previous competition medals to the local government office to convince officials of the importance of Mariam's racket to her athletic career, but the officials still refused to allow her access to the shop. The Commission met with Mariam and Kafayat to understand the incident fully and offer immediate support.

Kafayat appreciated the consistent support the Commission has provided to her daughter and other young athletes in the state, but urged the Commission to work more closely with other government institutions to prevent similar administrative issues from hindering the aspirations of young athletes, especially girls. Fatodu assured the family that the Commission would engage the relevant government entity to prevent a recurrence and outlined mid- and long-term measures, including the activation of a robust policy framework, improved communication channels, and increased awareness about protecting and supporting emerging sporting talents.