By Lekan Fatodu
Ask me about our sterling record of achievements in talent development in Lagos State, and I will proudly show you Emmanuel Akolo and other young promising athletes.
I’m super excited to hear about the latest impressive sporting exploits of Emmanuel Okolo at the ongoing African Youth Games in Angola.
Emmanuel is one of the most outstanding under-15 athletes who represented Lagos State and led the state to its first-ever win at the last National Youth Games (NYG) in Delta State.
Instructively, the NYG happened to be the first national competition experience for Emmanuel after having emerged from the diligent talent identification process and rigorous trials conducted by the Lagos State Sports Commission to be enlisted as part of Team Lagos.
After his extraordinary athletic prowess demonstrated in the 100m and 200m races at the NYG, he was immediately identified by the Athletic Federation of Nigeria (AFN) and drafted into the National Athletic Team to represent Nigeria.
Today, he has earned a new personal best of 10.74sec in the 100m in Angola to earn Nigeria a Silver Medal despite being the youngest amongst the sprinters.
Emmanuel’s story of steady rise to athletic glory is one that validates the value of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s investment in sports development and one that proves the judicious allocation of the investment by the Lagos State Sports Commission in the right persons and places.
Lekan Fatodu is the Director General Lagos State Sports Commission (LSSC)
