Stakeholders Recognise Lagos As Hub Of Cricket In Nigeria

Stakeholders in Nigeria Cricket have acknowledged the contributions of Lagos to the development of the Sport in the Country.

The acknowledgement was made during the 1st Development Seminar organised by the Lagos State Cricket Association (LSCA), it was agreed by the Stakeholders that Lagos is indeed the hub of Nigerian cricket.

The new Board of the Lagos State Cricket Association, (LSCA) was inaugurated in March 2021.

The well attended Teleconference Seminar was held with a cross-section of Participants from Sports and Cricket administrators, to other Stakeholders domiciled in Lagos and other cities within Nigeria, as well as, those beyond the shores of the Country in Europe and North America.

Presentations made at the seminar focused on the subject of the importance of Lagos as a hub in Nigerian cricket, gender inclusive development, reintroduction of competitive schools’ cricket and using the avenue of Club Cricket as a pathway to international Cricket, delivered by key subject experts and advocates.

The Chairman of the Nigeria Cricket Federation (NCF) Caretaker Committee Prof. Yahaya Ukwenya in his presentation, outlined the imperatives of the NCF “Accelerated Growth Programme” which has the objective of bringing in 250,000 new entrants annually for the next four years into the National Cricket ecosystem and charged the LSCA to contribute its quota in this respect.

Kofi Sagoe, Chairman of the Board of the LSCA, presented the 5-year Strategy document approved by the Lagos State Sports Commission in April 2021 for the development of the Sport. The strategy rests on the pillars of infrastructure, Player development, Coaches/umpires’ Certification, sponsorship, recognition/reward and governance.

The Lagos cricket informed the stakeholders at the seminar of the introduction of Lagos Cricket Stakeholders (LCS), an NGO set up in May 2021 to support the growth of the Sport in Lagos.

In his contribution, the Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Mr. David Harper, presented the aims and objectives of the LCS as well as its governance structure and ended with an invitation to Lagosians with a passion for the Sport to join the LCS and support the development initiatives of the LSCA. Charles Omoera, Vice-Chairman of the Board of the LSCA thanked the presenters and participants at the Seminar. He reiterated the commitment of the Board to implementing the development agenda outlined as well as the activity schedule.

He however, communicated the decision of the Board to register an U-19 State Team in the Lagos League and solicited the understanding of the Clubs that would not have the services of some of their younger players for a limited period.