The Lagos Athletics Association (LASAA) is launching the inaugural edition of its athletics club series on February 19 at Yaba College of Technology. LASAA chairman Solomon Alao explained that the tournament aims to keep athletes in peak condition for major events. “We want to keep the athletes busy in the best way possible, make them competitive, and provide an avenue where the young ones can compete with the best in the country,” he said. “It’s to foster friendship, develop the spirit of competitiveness, and help put Lagos on the map once again as the centre for athletics development.”
Technical Director Enefiok Udo‑Obong announced that a total of N10 million will be contested across the four legs of the series. “Athletes will compete in four legs and will be aiming to share the N10 million cash prize. It is the biggest rewarding competition in the history of athletics in Nigeria. The league format is innovative—it has never been done before—and we hope World Athletics will adopt a similar approach to make athletics a more followable sport,” he said.
Udo‑Obong, an Olympic gold medallist, clarified that the tournament is open to all, but participants must register with a club to take part. “It is an open competition, but you must register with a club to be part of the series. We are trying to develop a club system because clubs are the ones that develop athletes. It is not only open for athletes nationwide but also worldwide, as we have some international clubs joining,” he added.
In addition to the main event, Alao said schools within Lagos will compete in a schools’ invitational, giving students a chance to showcase their talents and be discovered by top coaches. The one‑day championships will feature races in the 100 m, 200 m, 400 m, 400 m hurdles, 800 m, 4×100 m relay, and long‑distance events such as 1500 m, 3000 m, and 5000 m. Winners of each event will earn points, and the top 12 finishers in each event will receive bonus points for their performances.
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