Kings of Sports
Call her Lasgidi, Eko Akete, or call her the hub, the live wire of the nation, none of these descriptions would be wrong. From the suburbs of this mesmerizing city, along ever-expanding road networks, expansive markets and business centers, over breathtaking skylines, across the lagoon and the open waters to the Island and back, Lagos pulsates with a vibe that keeps its inhabitants upbeat all the time. Unrivaled for the rugged nature of her business world and the brilliance of her nightlife, Lagos is the number one city for thrill-seekers and go-getters across Africa. With a teeming population that sets the city at the number one spot on most continental lists, opportunities literally abound in this metropolitan empire, for everyone and anyone with a resolve to make it ‘big.’
The vibrancy is almost visible in the daily schedules to close deals, meet targets and deadlines, and the constant drive to make the headlines. Still, this fast-paced life, like with any other city around the world with the same population explosion, can take its toll on the residents of Lagos. The city’s infamous traffic congestions mixed with the noise and bustle from car horns are but a few factors that can leave the body feeling drained after a very long day. The nightlife of the city helps to lighten the load a bit, but even that can take its own toll on the mind and body after a while.
When this active city has raised its voice out loud in unity, it was most likely in honor of a winning goal by the Super Eagles – our national football team – or by a variety of other local and foreign football clubs. To most of the people of Lagos, sports is the superior form of entertainment. It is not hard to believe this fact either. Most hotels, restaurants, bars, lounges, have sports bars; most organizations and multinationals sponsor sports events; and when any important season in the sports world – the Olympics, the World Cup, the African Cup of Nations – comes up, all other entertainment events take a pause or experience distinctly less attention than before.
Inhabitants of the city are more likely to invest money on a whim – gambling, traveling – on sports, than on anything else in the world. Football, Basketball, Tennis, Boxing, these sports – among others – hold the heart of our city in a way nothing else can and are an integral spice of living in Lagos.
The next posts will be all about Sports in Lagos. Follow this series to find out why Surulere (my hometown) is considered the Sports City.
The outline of this series was curated by Favour Umanah