The inaugural edition of the ‘Obasa Games 2024,’ named after Honourable Mudasiru Obasa, is designed to unearth young sports talents who can represent Nigeria in major competitions in the future. Organized by King Sports International, the festival is set to take place from November 15 to December 14 across three venues in the Orile-Agege LCDA and Agege Local Government area in Lagos State. The organizers aim to create a platform for showcasing local talent while honoring the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa. This initiative is crucial for enriching the Nigerian sports landscape by providing an opportunity for youth engagement in various sporting disciplines beyond just football.
During a press conference held at the Agege Local Government Secretariat, the Chairman of the Organising Committee, Abdulganiyu Obasa, stressed that the festival intends to broaden the scope of talent scouting across the Lagos-West Senatorial District. Emphasizing the significance of diverse sports, he noted the decision to include athletics beyond football, thereby encouraging participation from multiple local governments. The event will feature five sports: football, table tennis, boxing, scrabble, and chess, with a specific focus on identifying promising athletes in these areas, ensuring a comprehensive talent development approach from a young age.
The primary objective of the ‘Obasa Games 2024’ is talent identification and development, aiming to provide a robust foundation for young athletes to progress towards international recognition. The organizing committee plans to host a large scouting initiative, attracting talent scouts from different locations to evaluate participants and potentially assist in their athletic journey. This approach mirrors the successful talent scouting conducted in previous editions, with heightened ambition for the current event. By emphasizing the importance of these games in giving youth a platform, the organizers are seeking to inspire ambitions of representing Nigeria at prestigious events like the Olympics.
Specifically targeting athletes under the age of 19, the organizers have established age restrictions to ensure young participants can have the time and support necessary to develop their skills. Abdulganiyu Obasa articulated the vision of nurturing talent in games like scrabble and chess with the hope that future competitors may achieve Olympic status. This focus on youth engagement reflects a long-term commitment to fostering a new generation of athletes equipped to compete on international stages.
In recognition of their efforts, the event will allocate substantial cash prizes to encourage competitive spirit among participants. The football competition will carry a total prize pool of N6 million, with the winners receiving N3 million and other placements rewarded accordingly. For boxing and table tennis, the male and female champions will each be awarded N500,000. In addition, scrabble and chess participants are assured of N1 million as a reward, making the financial incentives a key motivating factor for athletes to participate actively in the festival.
The venues for various competitions have been strategically selected to facilitate maximum participation and engagement. Anwar-Ul Islam Model College Agege and Dairy Farm field will host the football matches while other sports events will occur at the indoor hall of the Agege Stadium. The comprehensive nature of ‘Obasa Games 2024’ promises not only to enhance sporting opportunities for local youth but also to contribute to the development of a more inclusive sporting culture in Lagos State and beyond. Overall, this initiative marks a significant step towards nurturing and recognizing talent in a variety of sports disciplines, foreshadowing a bright future for Nigeria’s representation in international sports arenas.
