Archery in Lagos expands schools campaign

The Lagos State Archery in Schools Sports Development Programme has introduced the sport to more than 500 students across communities as the campaign continues its push across Lagos.

Organised by the Lagos State Archery Association through the Lagos State School Sports Association and powered by Zen Archery Sports Foundation, the programme has visited schools in Agege, Bariga, Ikoyi and Surulere since its launch on May 12, reaching approximately 30 schools, training around 80 sports masters and spanning four local government areas.

On Wednesday, the programme arrived at Tolu Schools Complex in Ajeromi-Ifelodun, one of Lagos’s most established sporting communities.

Thursday’s session moved to Babs Fafunwa Millennium School in Ojodu Berger, extending the programme’s reach into Education District 6.

Emmanuel Oyeleke, founder of Zen Archery Sports Foundation, said the decision to bring the programme to Ajegunle was deliberate.

“Ajegunle has given Nigeria some of its finest athletes. We are not bringing archery here as something new or foreign — we are giving another opportunity to a community that already knows how to produce champions. Babs Fafunwa is equally important: Education District 6 is home to thousands of students who deserve access to this pathway. Every school we reach is another community in the pipeline,” he said.

Each activation follows a structure built to World Archery standards, covering safety briefing, live demonstration, supervised practical sessions and a dedicated training stream for sports masters.

The sports masters trained at each school are intended to serve as lasting coaching assets within their institutions long after the programme moves on.

The strongest performers identified across all six activations will be among the first considered for Lagos State’s preparation for the South-West Nigeria Under-21 Archery Camp and Championship.

The full six-day series, from May 12 to May 21, reached schools across Agege, Bariga, Ikoyi, Surulere, Ajegunle and Ojodu Berger — a cross-section of Lagos communities spanning the mainland, the island and the outer districts.