The Lagos State Sports Commission (LSSC) has officially formalized a partnership with the Dolphin Swimming League following the competition’s pivotal role in the state’s recent athletic success. This collaboration will culminate in the league’s inaugural long course swimming event on February 21 at the Mobolaji Johnson Sports Centre in Rowe Park, Yaba. State officials credit the private inter-school initiative with producing the elite athletes who secured the majority of Lagos State’s gold medals during their historic first-place finish at the 2025 National Youth Games.
Director General of the LSSC, Lekan Fatodu, confirmed the government’s commitment to expanding training opportunities and modernizing facilities for young swimmers. He noted that the initiative directly supports Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s vision for grassroots talent identification and international excellence. League coordinator Oluseyi Oyebode also revealed that the upcoming competition will utilize the newly constructed Olympic-size swimming pool at Rowe Park, marking a significant milestone for the development of the sport in Nigeria.
The growing influence of the league extends beyond domestic borders, with three participants recently returning from the African Youth Games in Angola. As the LSSC integrates the league into its official developmental framework, the partnership seeks to bridge existing technical gaps and provide a sustainable pathway for student-athletes to transition into professional swimming. The February event represents the first time the commission will host the league’s long course phase, signifying a new era of public-private cooperation in Nigerian sports.
Lekan Fatodu praised the organizers during a recent address: “I want to say a big thank you to the organisers of the Dolphin Swimming League for this remarkable initiative and for their consistency in ensuring the event runs smoothly. The kind of improvement we see here is absolutely remarkable. There’s no doubt that many talents are constantly discovered through this event. The Lagos State Government is committed to providing the necessary support to ensure young people have the opportunity to showcase their talents and launch into greatness. When you talk about swimming, the best place to see Nigeria’s finest swimmers is the Dolphin Swimming League, and we are proud of our partnership with them.
This aligns with the commitment of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to empower young people and provide opportunities for talents to be identified in schools and nurtured to international glory. As a government, we are looking into areas where there are gaps and collaborating with the organisers to scale up training opportunities and facilities. This initiative has already contributed to Lagos’ success at the National Youth Games, and it is one of the results of the partnership we are building.”
Oluseyi Oyebode commented on the significance of the partnership: “The event has been awesome, and this is the first time we are receiving the Director General of the Lagos State Sports Commission. Discussions about partnership have been ongoing, and now LSSC will be hosting the long course on February 21. For me, that’s a wonderful achievement. We will also have three of our children returning from the African Youth Games in Angola. Clearly, the Dolphin Swimming League is growing beyond our expectations.”
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