—-Veteran administrator Uthman Okunnu hails participating organisations
No fewer than 468 players from 13 organisations in Nigeria’s creative and entertainment industry are set to participate in the maiden edition of the Lagos Entertainment Association Games and Awards (LEAGA) 2026, scheduled for September 22–26 in Lagos.
Chairman of the Main Organising Committee, veteran sports technocrat and administrator Prince Ola Uthman Okunnu, disclosed this on Tuesday, September 15, at a media briefing 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 maiden edition would provide participants with an opportunity to compete, network, relax and celebrate their talents outside their normal professional environment.
He said close to 468 participants would compete for medals across a range of indoor and outdoor sporting events, making LEAGA 2026 a pioneering Sportainment Festival in Nigeria.
Okunnu commended the participating organisations for embracing the initiative and coming together to celebrate one another in a sporting environment.
He also outlined the arrangements for the festival, including the procedures for the draws in football, basketball and other events.
The outdoor events will be held at YABATECH Sports Centre, Yaba, and Rowe Park Centre, Yaba, while indoor events will take place at Studio 18 Hub, Gbagada.
The sporting programme includes football, basketball, athletics — 100m, 200m, 4x100m and mixed 4x100m relays — tennis, sack race, tug-of-war and arm wrestling.
Indoor events will include table tennis, scrabble, snooker, Ayo Olopon, draughts and ludo.
Okunnu assured participants that the organisers had put comprehensive logistics in place for the five-day festival.
«“All the logistics are intact, and these games, being the maiden edition, will be a pilot that will set the standard for subsequent editions.»
«“We have all the logistics essential for smooth sailing intact. We have ambulances ready. Although we do not pray for any emergency, we need to be ready.”»
The maiden LEAGA is being organised by Studio 18 Hub and Francosh Group, in collaboration with the Lagos State Government through the Lagos State Sports Commission, headed by Mr Lekan Fatodu.
Chairman of Studio 18 Hub and Co-convener of the games, Mr Olufemi Oladeinde, said the response to the initiative had exceeded the organisers’ initial expectations.
According to Oladeinde, the concept received encouragement from the Lagos State Sports Commission, which recognised the potential of bringing sports and entertainment together to create new opportunities for Lagos and its creative economy.
He described LEAGA as a meeting point where “sport meets entertainment, entertainment meets community and community meets greatness.”
Oladeinde said the organisers had a long-term ambition of taking LEAGA beyond Nigeria.
«“In the next five years, we will be having it on the international scene. But we will do the first one in Nigeria and take the next one to either Kenya, South Africa or Morocco.”»
The event’s theme is “Celebrating Creativity, Wellness, Collaboration and Economic Growth through Sportainment.”
Co-convener and veteran creative-industry practitioner with more than 45 years of experience, Ambassador Muyiwa Osinaike FGDN, said LEAGA would create one of the largest gatherings of creative professionals in a sporting environment.
Osinaike explained that the initiative was conceived as a Lagos lifestyle blend of sports and entertainment designed to promote bonding and healthy interaction among stakeholders in the entertainment, arts, culture and creative economy sectors.
He described LEAGA as the “Olympics of the entertainment and creative sector in Nigeria”, adding that the five-day festival would combine sports, wellness, networking, business and entertainment.
Also speaking, Mrs Adetola Adegbayi, Founder and Platform Servant of Mutual Aids Specialist (MAIDS), a technology-driven insurance partner to the games, pledged the organisation’s support for the festival.
She said MAIDS was supporting LEAGA because of the opportunities created by the combination of sports, entertainment, wellness and community engagement.
«“We are all out to support these games and that is why we are here. We want to show Nigerians the kind of support we can and have been providing beyond just insurance.»
«“We will provide the necessary support needed to facilitate the smooth running of the games and make everyone a partner or partaker of their money, investment and health.”»
The participating organisations include the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), Q Dance Centre, Guild of Nigerian Dancers (GOND), Verdant Zeal, National Association of Nigerian Theatre 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 Amazon Ambassador of LEAGA 2026, Mrs Ronnie Dikko-Kila, commended the organisers for creating an avenue for professionals in the creative industry to interact outside their normal work routines.
She said many practitioners within the industry could spend years working in the same city without having meaningful opportunities to interact socially.
«“This is a programme I am very happy to be associated with because we in the creative industry do not have much time to have a full house where we gather to network.”»
Chairman of the Actors Guild of Nigeria, Lagos State chapter, Mary Edwards, also expressed the guild’s readiness to participate actively in the festival.
She said sports could play an important role in strengthening social relationships among members.
The event also attracted representatives of 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 LEAGA 2026 were subsequently conducted by Okunnu and other members of the Main Organising Committee.
Among the ambassadors of the maiden LEAGA are veteran Nollywood actor Segun Arinze, Fuji musician Abass Akande Obesere, and CEO/Centre Director of the J. Randle Centre for Yoruba Culture and History, Qudus Onikeku, among others.
With 13 major organisations bringing together hundreds of professionals across Nigeria’s creative and entertainment ecosystem, LEAGA 2026 is set to test a new concept — using sport as a platform to connect entertainment, wellness, business and community.
