In a strong show of support for sports development, the Director General of the Lagos State Sports Commission, Mr. Lekan Fatodu, hosted the victorious Lagos State Armwrestling Team on Friday, March 11, 2025, following their outstanding performance at the National Armwrestling Open Championship in Ibadan.
The event, held at the Lekan Salami Stadium, saw Lagos dominate the medals table with 19 gold medals, firmly reinforcing its position as the powerhouse of Nigerian armwrestling.
While congratulating the team, Fatodu praised their courage, resilience, and winning spirit, adding that Lagos remains committed to sustaining its dominance in armwrestling. He announced plans by the commission to establish a state-of-the-art armwrestling gym to further support the athletes and grow the sport in the state.
“You have made Lagos proud,” Fatodu said. “This is just the beginning. I assure you that this government will not let you down. We are planning a dedicated gym for armwrestling in Lagos to help you prepare better for future competitions.”
As a gesture of appreciation, a token of N100,000 was given to the team for refreshments, underscoring the state’s ongoing support for athletes at all levels.
The DG also applauded Engr. Samuel Jackson, President of the Nigeria Armwrestling Federation, for the remarkable strides the sport has made under his leadership.
“We recognize the commitment of the federation in taking armwrestling to greater heights in Nigeria. Your leadership is setting a solid foundation,” Fatodu added.
Coach Becky Ademoh, who leads the Lagos State Armwrestling team, delivered a heartfelt vote of thanks. She expressed gratitude to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the Lagos Sports Commission, and all stakeholders who made their success possible in Ibadan. She reiterated the team’s goal of representing Nigeria at the African Armwrestling Championship in July, and called for continued support.
“This sport is growing, and we are ready to raise Nigeria’s flag at the continental level,” Coach Becky said. “We’ve worked hard and taken personal risks to compete. Now we’re counting on the continued encouragement of our leaders and the private sector.”
She commended the competition for giving young athletes a platform to shine and praised Coach Femi and other federation officials for their unrelenting support.
With over 26 states participating in the championship and Lagos leading by a clear 15-gold margin, Coach Becky believes this is just the beginning of greater feats.
Lagos State, through its athletes and leadership, has once again demonstrated its readiness to not just dominate Nigerian sports, but to take center stage in continental and global armwrestling
