As part of the commitment of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s administration to make Lagos a sports hub, an Olympic-sized swimming pool with warm-up and 250-seat pavilion was commissioned on Thursday, 6 February, 2025, by the Lagos State Government.
Governor Sanwo-Olu, represented by the state Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Mobolaji Ogunlende, commissioned the state-of-the-art swimming pool along with other facilities such as the Handball Court, Volleyball Court and Basketball Court at Rowe Park Sports Centre, Yaba.
In his remarks, Governor Sanwo-Olu described the facilities as a beacon of health, fitness, and community engagement and a testament to the shared vision of creating opportunities for the youth, promoting active lifestyles, and fostering a culture of excellence in Lagos state.
“This is Lagos, the Centre of Excellence, a state of aquatic spending, and the financial hub of Africa. When we talk about Nigeria, we talk about Lagos. This project reflects our unwavering commitment to providing world-class recreational and sports facilities for our residents”, he said.
The Governor commended the Lagos State Sports Trust Fund (LSSTF), for facilitating the reconstruction of the swimming pool and rehabilitation of other facilities through sponsorship. He expressed the state government’s gratitude to sports philanthropist and elder statesman Chief Kessington Adebutu for his generosity and the Lagos Lottery Board towards the realization of the project.
Sanwo-Olu said, “The Olympic Swimming pool alongside the warm pool and 250 seater spectators stand is a bold statement of the State’s resolve to promote physical well-being, future talent and create a space where individuals of all ages can come together to learn, to grow and to thrive. Swimming is not just a sport, it is a life skill that offers immense physical and mental health benefits”.
“This facility is designed to encourage our youth to take up swimming whether for fitness competition or leisure”, he noted.
Director-General, Lagos State Sports Commission (LSSC), Lekan Fatodu, applauded the laudable initiative of Governor Sanwo-Olu as a testament to his commitment to improving infrastructure within the sporting ecosystem in Lagos State.
Fatodu implored the public and private sectors to collaborate on social and economic development by promoting sports and providing an enabling environment for talents to reach the zenith of their chosen careers.
He also noted that the state government is developing various sporting facilities across the five divisions of Lagos, assuring that some will be commissioned very soon.
“Mr. Governor has told us it is important to provide opportunities and facilities because it is a powerful tool to save our young ones from crimes and criminality,” he added.
