Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu has charged skaters to do more after offering them monetary reward during the children’s day celebration on Tuesday, May 27, 2025. This kind gesture was witnessed during the 2nd edition of Skate Lagos Competition which was held at the national stadium, Surulere, Lagos. The Lagos State Government through the office of the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Grassroots Sports Development, Mr Adebanji Atewogboye popularly known as SKIBANJ, hosted the skaters while representing the governor whose passion for sports remains top notch. The annual event, which was to mark Children’s Day 2025, was themed: “Lagos Rocking Future Stars”, attracting large numbers of professional skaters, coaches and spectators across Lagos aimed to promote youth development, talent discovery and empowerment of the next generation of sports stars in Lagos. “It was a colourful event bringing all the youth together from all the 57 Local Government in Lagos State, in as much such talent hunt event is taking them away from bad vices it’s a good course.” Atewogboye stated. “I’m very happy we are able to grace this occasion today been the Children’s Day, it’s the second edition in a role and we unearthing talents for the new developments of sports in Lagos, in as much it’s keeping the youth from bad vices, bad companies, we will keep bringing this event to them. “This event will provide a platform for the young stalkers to showcase their skills, network with other peers and gain recognition.” “The Lagos State Government under Gov Sanwo-Olu are making efforts with the Skate Lagos Competition to promote young talent from Nigeria to the universe and it’s yielding massive positive results and it’s a big testimony to his commitment as a way of taking the youth away from bad vices,” he opined. The competition which comprises of male and female categories, drew attention from all the youth within the state. In the male category, Abiodun Adeniran came 1st in the 200m race, Oyetade Segun came 2nd while Omotayo Gideon came 3rd. In the female category, the winner Arafat Adaeze Khadejo came1st, while Onitimiren Bukola came 2nd and Rosea Sayi effort was not in vain with the 3rd position. The winners from the two categories went home with the sum of N250,000 each while the 1st runner up in the two categories cart away with N150,000 each. While the 2nd runner up in the both categories take home N50,000 each (Fifty thousand Naira,). One of the stakeholders, Femi Babalola, told The SunSport skating community’s plan to standardise the sport in Nigeria and bring it at par with Europe’s Formula 1. He urged corporate Nigeria to support the government and invest in skating the way they do for football and other sports, adding that the potential for growth is enormous. Also pleading for more support for skating, Abiodun Adeniran, male category winner, said skating, as a unique sport with many fresh talents in Nigeria, will make the country proud if skaters are given adequate support to travel overseas for international games, including the Olympics. “I am not speaking for only the skaters, but on behalf of athletes in Nigeria. We need corporate organizations support, sponsorship in any way they can because government can’t do it alone. “As athletes, we want our country to be great; we don’t want other countries to see us as drug dealers or addicts. If the government can support us to the yearly World Rollers Game, it will be a great experience. “This is what athletes from other countries take for granted.” Meanwhile the female winner Arafat Adaeze Khadejo was full of ecstasy to be the winner of the female categories, she said, “I am definitely short of words right now because I can’t put it into words how ecstatic I am. Thanks to Lagos State Government for giving us the opportunities to showcase our talents and I am this is just the beginning because representing Nigeria and bringing glory to this nation are my targets. Thank you all,” she enthused