Sanwo-Olu receives Premier League Trophy, pledges continued support for sports, youth devt
By Sodiq Adelakun
Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Sunday received the English Premier League Trophy, reaffirming his administration’s commitment to leveraging sports as a tool for youth engagement, social inclusion, and societal transformation.
The trophy was presented to the governor at the Lagos House in Marina by the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Guinness Nigeria PLC, Mr. Girish Sharma, as part of a promotional tour highlighting Nigeria’s passion for football.
In a statement signed by Gboyega Akosile, Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the Governor, Sanwo-Olu described the moment as symbolic of Lagos’ vibrant sports culture and growing role in global sporting events.
Addressing guests during the presentation, the governor praised Guinness Nigeria for its longstanding contribution to social initiatives in the state and the country at large. He described the trophy as a source of inspiration for many young Nigerians.
“We are excited that Guinness identifies with us by bringing the Premier League Trophy to Lagos. It is a trophy that everybody believes is inspirational. It is about using sports as a change agent. It is about using sports as a way of connecting to the youth demographic that we have.
“It is about using sports as a weapon to be able to identify the skills, capacity and capability of our young people. It is about using sports as a strong connection to be socially responsible citizens and individuals and to use it as a means of engagement,” Sanwo-Olu said.
He further emphasised Lagos State’s dedication to creating a conducive environment for businesses and corporate organizations.
“We want to assure you that we will continue to make Lagos hospitable and habitable for businesses to do well and thrive. We will continue to make the environment worthwhile for every corporate organisation, because we know that it is by doing that that we can develop the economy, we can grow, and people can see a better life for one another,” he said.
In a light-hearted appeal, the governor also invited Premier League teams to consider visiting Lagos during their off-season tours. “We don’t bite people, we don’t eat people, we are just fans. We just want to hug them and take a selfie with them,” he joked.
Earlier, Mr. Girish Sharma commended the Lagos State Government for its leadership and commitment to sports and youth development.
He noted that Guinness Nigeria, now 75 years old, was proud to present the trophy to Nigerian fans.
“I am very pleased to be here today to present the Premier League Trophy to football fans and give them the opportunity to stand next to the trophy. We make sure the trophy comes to Nigeria because this is one of the largest sporting nations. So, there is no way this trophy cannot be presented to the Nigerians for them to feel it,” Sharma said.
He added that the company remains committed to Nigeria’s future and encouraged citizens to believe in the country’s potential.
“We are honoured to be part of Nigeria. The presence of Guinness here for decades shows how important this country is. Nigerians must continue to believe in themselves and in their nation,” he said.
