JamzNG Latest News, Gist, Entertainment in Nigeria
Post views: 38
—-Veteran administrator Uthman Okunnu greets participating organizations
No fewer than 468 players from 13 Nigerian entertainment and creative industry organizations will participate in the inaugural edition of the Lagos Entertainment Association Games and Awards (LEAGA) 2026, scheduled to take place from 22 to 26 September in Lagos.
The Chairman of the Main Organizing Committee, veteran sports technocrat and administrator, Prince Ola Uthman Okunnu, disclosed this on Tuesday, September 15, at a press conference held at Studio 18 Hub, Gbagada.
Okunnu described the event as a historic convergence of Nigeria’s creative and entertainment sectors through sports, saying the inaugural edition would offer participants the opportunity to compete, network, unwind and celebrate their talents outside the normal professional environment.
He said nearly 468 participants will compete for medals in a series of indoor and outdoor sporting events, making LEAGA 2026 a pioneering Sporttainment festival in Nigeria.
Okunnu commended the participating organizations for embracing the initiative and coming together to celebrate each other in a sporting environment.
He also explained the modalities of the festival, including the procedures for drawings for football, basketball and other events.
The outdoor events will be held at YABATECH Sports Centre, Yaba and Rowe Park Centre, Yaba, while the indoor events will take place at Studio 18 Hub, Gbagada.
The sports program includes football, basketball, athletics (100, 200, 4×100 and 4×100 medley relay), tennis, sack racing, tug of war and arm wrestling.
Indoor events will include table tennis, scrabble, snooker, Ayo Olopon, checkers and ludo.
Okunnu assured attendees that the organizers have put in place comprehensive logistics for the five-day festival.
«”All logistics are intact and these games, being the first edition, will constitute a pilot that will set the standard for subsequent editions.”
«”We have all the essential logistics intact for a smooth journey. We have ambulances ready. Even if we do not pray for any emergency, we must be ready.”»
The first LEAGUE is organized by Studio 18 Hub and Francosh Group, in collaboration with the Lagos State Government through the Lagos State Sports Commission, led by Lekan Fatodu.
Studio 18 Hub president and co-organizer of the games, Olufemi Oladeinde, said the response to the initiative had exceeded the organizers’ initial expectations.
According to Oladeinde, the concept received encouragement from the Lagos State Sports Commission, which recognized the potential of combining sports and entertainment to create new opportunities for Lagos and its creative economy.
He described LEAGA as a meeting place where “sports meets entertainment, entertainment meets community and community meets greatness.”
Oladeinde said the organizers had a long-term ambition to take LEAGA beyond Nigeria.
«”In the next five years we will have it on the international scene. But we will do the first one in Nigeria and the next one in Kenya, South Africa or Morocco.”»
The theme of the event is “Celebrating creativity, well-being, collaboration and economic growth through sporttainment”.
Co-convener and veteran creative industry professional with over 45 years of experience, Ambassador Muyiwa Osinaike FGDN, said LEAGA will create one of the largest gatherings of creative professionals in a sporting environment.
Osinaike explained that the initiative was conceived as a blend of sports and entertainment on the Lagos lifestyle, designed to promote bonding and healthy interaction between stakeholders in the entertainment, arts, culture and creative economy sectors.
He described LEAGA as the “Olympics of Entertainment and Creative Sector in Nigeria”, adding that the five-day festival will combine sports, wellness, networking, business and entertainment.
Also speaking, Mrs. Adetola Adegbayi, founder and platform servant of Mutual Aids Specialist (MAIDS), a technology-based gaming insurance partner, pledged the organisation’s support to the festival.
He said MAIDS supports LEAGA because of the opportunities created by the combination of sports, entertainment, wellbeing and community engagement.
“We are all ready to support these games and that is why we are here. We want to show Nigerians the kind of support we can and have provided beyond just insurance.”
«“We will provide the necessary support to facilitate the smooth running of the games and make everyone partners or participants in their money, investments and health.”»
Participating organizations include Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), Q Dance Centre, Guild of Nigerian Dancers (GOND), Verdant Zeal, National Association of Nigerian Theater Arts Practitioners (NANTAP), Deejays Association of Nigeria (DJAN), Pulse Nigeria, Gospel Musicians Association of Nigeria (GOMAN), Fuji Musicians Association of Nigeria (FUMAN), Brilla Media, Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria (PMAN), Citizen Voice and Star/MiTV-Plus Media.
Veteran Nollywood actress and LEAGA 2026 Amazon Ambassador, Mrs. Ronnie Dikko-Kila, commended the organizers for creating an avenue for creative industry professionals to interact outside of their normal work routines.
He said many industry professionals might spend years working in the same city without having meaningful opportunities to interact socially.
«“This is a program that I am very happy to collaborate on because we in the creative sector don’t have much time to have a full room where we can gather to network.”»
The President of the Actors Guild of Nigeria, Lagos State Chapter, Mary Edwards, also expressed the guild’s readiness to actively participate in the festival.
He said sports could play an important role in strengthening social relationships between members.
The event also attracted representatives from sponsors and partners including Drugstoc Ehub Ltd., partners of Hisamitsu Pharmaceutical Co. Inc., makers of Salonpas, Pocari Sweat and Hazzat Homes.
The football and basketball draws for the 2026 LEAGUE were subsequently conducted by Okunnu and other members of the Main Organizing Committee.
Among the ambassadors of the first LEAGUE are veteran Nollywood actor Segun Arinze, Fuji Abass musician Akande Obesere and CEO/Director of the J. Randle Center for Yoruba Culture and History, Qudus Onikeku, among others.
With 13 leading organizations bringing together hundreds of professionals in Nigeria’s creative and entertainment ecosystem, LEAGA 2026 is set to test a new concept: using sport as a platform to connect entertainment, wellbeing, business and community.
