Former Nigerian Olympian Yusuf Alli has said the maiden National Intermediate Games, branded EKO 2026, will act as a litmus test for states genuinely investing in grassroots athlete development. According to Alli, the event will expose states that rely on poaching athletes rather than nurturing their own talent. The competition is expected to highlight which regions are committed to building sustainable sports programmes at the grassroots level across Nigeria.

Organisers of the inaugural Eko 2026 sports festival in Lagos expect more than 14,000 athletes from Nigeria's 36 states, the Federal Capital Territory and the diaspora to take part. Former long jumper Yusuf Alli said the event would help identify states that poach athletes from others, according to Premium Times. The tournament is set to bring together competitors from across the country and abroad for its first edition, with officials presenting it as a platform for accountability in athlete registration and development.

Bukola Olopade, the Director General of the National Sports Commission (NSC) and Chef de Mission for Team Nigeria, has welcomed the team to their training camp in Aberdeen ahead of the 2026 Commonwealth Games.

Nigeria has established a complete training camp in Aberdeen, Scotland, where 74 athletes are preparing for the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. The athletes are focusing on 10 different sports as they intensify their preparations for the upcoming event.

Twelve secondary schools, including Government Secondary School, Karu, and David Hall International College, Lagos, are set to compete in the 26th Milo National School Basketball Championship starting June 27th at the National Stadium in Surulere, Lagos. The competition will feature participants from various states in Nigeria, with teams in the boys’ category including Father O’Connell Science College from Niger.

Parallex Bank has awarded ₦1 million each to 10 exceptional athletes from Lagos State who participated in the 2025 National Youth Games held in Asaba, totaling ₦10 million in rewards. This initiative aims to recognize and support the achievements of young athletes in the region.