{
  "id": 2908478,
  "title": "Sanwo-Olu Says EKO 2026 ‘ll Harness, Retain Nigeria’s Young Talents",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/24/sanwo-olu-says-eko-2026-ll-harness-retain-nigerias-young-talents",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-08-24T00:50:35.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "This Day",
    "slug": "this-day",
    "url": "https://www.thisdaylive.com/2026/08/24/sanwo-olu-says-eko-2026-ll-harness-retain-nigerias-young-talents/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": null,
  "summary": "Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has announced that the inaugural National Intermediate Games, EKO 2026, will serve as a crucial platform to identify, nurture, and retain Nigeria’s young sporting talents before they advance to the elite level. Scheduled for October 1–15, the Games are projected to attract between 14,000 and 15,000 athletes. Sanwo-Olu highlighted the event as a significant opportunity to bolster grassroots sports development and create pathways for emerging athletes to reach their full potential. The governor made these remarks during an inspection of the Teslim Balogun Stadium, one of the major venues for the Games, which is undergoing rehabilitation works. Sanwo-Olu emphasized that EKO 2026 would not only discover and develop talents but also establish a system capable of retaining promising athletes in Nigeria, aligning with the state’s broader strategy to enhance sports development.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}