Grassroots Sports Gets Boost as Radio One 103.5FM Set for 5th Children Sports Fiesta at CMS Grammar School, Bariga

Grassroots Sports Gets Boost as Radio One 103.5FM Set for 5th Children Sports Fiesta at CMS Grammar School, Bariga

By Prince Benson Davies

The Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, Lagos Operations, through its station Radio One 103.5FM, has announced plans to upscale youth development with the unveiling of the fifth edition of the Children Sports Fiesta and the second edition of the Girl Child Summit.

The fifth edition of the Sports Fiesta, which has become a leading grassroots talent discovery initiative of the FRCN Lagos Operations, is designed to positively engage children through sports. The competition is scheduled to take place on Tuesday, 20th October, 2026, at the prestigious CMS Grammar School, Bariga, Lagos, where scores of schools and sports academies across Lagos State are expected to participate.

Addressing journalists and other stakeholders at a news conference held in GRA-Ikeja to herald the competition, the Director, Lagos Operations of FRCN, Princess Adenike Adegoke, said the Sports Fiesta remains a direct expression of the vision of the Director-General of the Corporation, Dr. Mohammed Bulama, for sports development.

Princess Adegoke commended the management of Radio One FM and the Sports and Outside Broadcast Department for raising the standard of this year’s edition through the involvement of more critical stakeholders, including ex-international and captain of the 1983 set of Flying Eagles, Mr. Tajudeen Disu, who will inspire budding talents at the event.

Giving details of the competition, the General Manager of Radio One, Mr. Abiola Peters, listed the sporting events as Football, Athletics and Swimming, with swimming being the newly introduced category for boys and girls.

Mr. Peters explained that the inclusion of swimming is strategic to complement efforts at discovering future swimming champions for Lagos State and Nigeria. He announced that both preliminaries and finals will be held on the world-class facilities of CMS Grammar School, Bariga.

Speaking on the purpose of the fiesta, the Chairman of the Planning Committee and Assistant Director of Programmes, Mr. Femi Taiwo, said the initiative is aimed at creating opportunities for children to develop their sporting abilities, make friends and achieve a balance between academics and sports.

In his remarks, one of the Ambassadors of the 5th edition of the FRCN Lagos – Radio One FM Sports Fiesta, Mr. Tajudeen Disu, expressed delight at being associated with an event that will discover new talents in sports just like himself decades ago. He promised to support the initiative beyond this edition and ensure that exemplary talents discovered are supported to greater heights.

Mr. Disu, who is the current Chairman of the Youth Sports Federation of Nigeria, YSFON, admonished youths to allow sports to impact them positively and thereby become responsible individuals as was obtainable during his playing days, noting that the gains will be far-reaching.

The news conference brought together members of management staff, sports personalities and other stakeholders, including the Assistant Director, Outdoor Broadcast and Sports, Princess Franca Dada, and Consultant and Chairman of Lagos State Football Coaches Association, Chief Tairu Adewale Hassan.

The event also highlighted activities for the Radio One International Day of the Girl Child billed for Tuesday, October 13. Speaking on the summit, Head of Presentation, Radio One, Mrs. Lawunmi Akano, noted the urgent need to end child marriage and invest in the education and development of the girl child.

Highpoint of the event was the unveiling of the official sportswear for the fifth edition of the Children’s Sports Fiesta, courtesy of Owu Sportswear.