As Dele Atoun, retired referee and current General Secretary of the Lagos State Referee Association, marks his birthday today, September 20, his wishes go beyond celebrations. Rather than receiving gifts or accolades, Atoun uses this special day to voice a heartfelt plea to Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu: revive Lagos’s ailing stadiums and give the youth a fighting chance.
For over four years, key stadiums in Lagos, including Agege Stadium, Ifako Stadium, Teslim Balogun Stadium, Igbogbo Stadium, and Gbagada Stadium, have been left in various states of disrepair. The construction projects have lingered, with no end in sight, leaving facilities half-built and unusable. Atoun, who has dedicated his life to nurturing young referees, sees the effects of this neglect daily. Young athletes and aspiring referees, filled with passion and potential, are left on the sidelines, their dreams postponed indefinitely.
“Sport is the number one tool for youth engagement and development,” Atoun says, his voice filled with concern. “Hundreds of youth come to us every year, eager to learn and grow as referees. But without proper facilities, how do we empower, engage, and develop them? We are losing competitions and opportunities to other states because we lack the basic infrastructure. It’s frustrating to see the hope in these young people’s eyes fade.”
Lagos, a state rich in talent and history, has become a shadow of its former sporting self. Competitions that once brought pride and unity to the community are now being moved outside the state, taking away the spotlight that Lagos once held. Atoun’s birthday wish is simple: that Lagos, under the leadership of Governor Sanwo-Olu, invests in its future by completing these stadiums.
“Governor Sanwo-Olu, our youth are frustrated, not because they lack talent, but because they lack opportunities,” Atoun implores. “Let’s give them the chance they deserve. Let’s bring back the games, the hope, and the pride of Lagos.”
For Dele Atoun, today is not just about celebrating another year of life; it’s about fighting for the future of Lagos’s youth.
