The commissioning of the Babajide Sanwo-Olu Mini Stadium in Sura, Lagos Island, has sparked renewed optimism for grassroots sports development in Badagry and other underserved communities, following assurances from the Lagos State Government that similar projects will be extended beyond the city centre.

The mini stadium, delivered through a public-private partnership between TECNO and the Lagos State Sports Commission, is the first of its kind in Lagos State and is designed to support 8-a-side football, providing young people with a modern, safe, and accessible sporting facility.

Speaking at the commissioning ceremony, the Lagos State Commissioner for Sports and Youth Development, Honourable Mobolaji Ogunlende popularly called RAK, who hails from Badagry, called for the replication of the initiative in areas that have historically lacked adequate sports infrastructure.

He specifically mentioned Ikorodu and Badagry as priority locations, noting that expanding such facilities would help uncover and nurture hidden talents while promoting youth engagement and social development across the state.

“This initiative should not stop in Lagos Island alone. Communities like Badagry, with vibrant and football-loving youths, deserve similar investments that can help channel talent positively and productively,” the commissioner said.

Also speaking at the event, the Director-General of the Lagos State Sports Commission, Mr Lekan Fatoba, described the project as a strong example of what can be achieved when corporate organisations align their social responsibility goals with government development priorities.

According to him, the mini stadium represents more than a corporate intervention, describing it as “a convergence of purpose between corporate social responsibility and the government’s social contract with the people.”

Representing TECNO, Mr Babatunde Giwa, Head of Legal Affairs, said the company’s long-term vision is to support grassroots football across Nigeria by creating pathways between young talents and established football icons.

“Our commitment goes beyond partnerships with top African football competitions. We are equally focused on identifying and supporting the next generation of football stars at the community level,” he said.

The commissioning ceremony featured a novelty match between a Lagos State team and a TECNO team, which ended in a 2–2 draw, followed by a community encounter where Sura Red Stars defeated a local rival 3–1, underscoring the community-focused intent of the project.

For residents and youth stakeholders in Badagry, the commissioner’s remarks have raised expectations that similar sports infrastructure could soon reach the coastal community, widely regarded as one of Lagos State’s most historically significant but infrastructurally underserved areas.

The TECNO mini stadium project aligns with the company’s broader commitment to football development in Africa, including its partnerships with continental tournaments such as the CAF Africa Cup of Nations, while reinforcing Lagos State’s drive to use sports as a tool for youth empowerment, community development, and social cohesion.