Lasisi Boosts Lagos Weightlifting With New Barbells
When athletes lack basic tools, talent alone is never enough to lift them to the top.
That reality has long confronted weightlifters in Lagos, until now.
In a major boost for grassroots sports development, a Board Member of the Nigeria Weightlifting Federation (NWF) and South-West Zonal Chairman, Mr Aderemi Lasisi, has donated a complete set of barbells to the Lagos State Weightlifting Association (LSWA).
The equipment was formally presented on Friday, 16 January 2026, at the LSWA Secretariat, Mobolaji Sports Centre, Rowe Park, Yaba, in the presence of officials of the Lagos State Sports Commission, association board members, coaches, and athletes.
Lasisi described the donation as part of his strategic plan to revitalise weightlifting across the South-West, following a tour of all six states where he observed a severe shortage of training equipment.
He disclosed that Oyo State would be the next beneficiary before the initiative is extended across the region, and potentially to other zones nationwide.
“Most states lack proper equipment for effective training. A farmer cannot farm without implements, and athletes cannot excel without proper gear,” he said, urging sports commissions and private stakeholders to invest more in weightlifting, which he described as a “multi-medal sport.”
He also stressed that quality equipment reduces injury risks and helps athletes develop strength, balance, and precision.
The Director Technical of the Lagos State Sports Commission, Mrs Ife Ogunlaja, welcomed the gesture, noting that the new equipment would enhance performance and better prepare athletes for national and international competitions.
The donated set includes weight plates of 25kg, 20kg, 15kg, 10kg, 5kg, and 2.5kg, alongside a barbell and collars, a full standard training kit for competitive lifting.
Stakeholders believe the initiative could mark a turning point for weightlifting development in Lagos and the wider South-West.
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