Draw For 2026 Speaker’s Game, Renewed Hope Edition, Holds In Lagos Assembly

The Lagos State House of Assembly has held the draws for the 2026 edition of the Speaker’s Game, themed “Renewed Hope”, with a commitment to sustain the annual sporting competition as a platform for promoting physical fitness, talent discovery and unity among public servants.

 

The event, organised in commemoration of the birthday of the Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, is designed to encourage staff of government ministries, departments and agencies to participate in sports and improve their overall wellbeing.

 

Speaking at the event, the Deputy Speaker of the Assembly, Hon. (Mrs) Mojisola Lasbat Meranda, said that the competition went beyond celebrating the Speaker’s birthday, stressing that it also provided an opportunity to promote fitness and strengthen relationships among participants.

 

“It is my pleasure to welcome you all to the unveiling and draws of the annual Speaker’s Game. Not only is it to celebrate the birthday of the Speaker, but also to ensure the fitness of all the staff and others,” she said.

 

Meranda said the theme, Renewed Hope, reflected the importance of investing in people’s welfare, happiness and general wellbeing.

 

“Renewed Hope is investing in the wellbeing of the people, happiness and overall wellbeing,” she said.

 

According to her, the competition would enable participants to build stronger relationships while embracing healthy living.

 

“Beyond the competition, this game offers us an opportunity to strengthen bonds and encourage wellbeing. As we celebrate the birthday of our Speaker, we celebrate the vision behind the game,” she added.

 

She urged participants to compete fairly and demonstrate good sportsmanship, expressing hope that the 2026 edition would be inspiring to everyone involved.

 

“I enjoin all the participants to embrace sportsmanship and wellbeing. May this year’s edition be inspiring for everyone of us,” Meranda said.

 

The Chairman of the House Committee on Youth, Sports and Social Development, Hon. Abiodun Orekoya, representing Shomolu Constituency 1, described the Speaker’s Game as an annual event organised to mark Obasa’s birthday and promote sporting activities among public servants.

 

“I welcome you all to this occasion. It is with excitement that I welcome you to the Speaker’s Game, an annual event organised in commemoration of the birthday of the Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa,” he said.

Orekoya urged participants to see the competition as an opportunity to demonstrate character, discipline and mutual respect rather than merely pursue trophies.

 

“Today, we gather not just as competitors, but as people united by sports. Your performance is not measured by trophies, but by your character,” he said.

 

He also commended those working behind the scenes to ensure the success of the event.

 

The committee Chairman said that the competition featured football, snooker, chess and tug-of-war, adding that the Assembly was committed to promoting sports development and talent discovery among public servants.

 

He urged participants to use the opportunity to showcase their abilities beyond their regular professional responsibilities.

 

“The game is not about us fighting ourselves; it is about us developing ourselves,” he said.

 

Orekoya assured participants that the Assembly intended to sustain the competition beyond the tenure of the current Speaker.

The Clerk of the House, Mrs Adenike Oshinowo, expressed appreciation to the Deputy Speaker, lawmakers, government officials and staff members for attending the event.

 

She also acknowledged the contributions of commissioners, agencies and commissions to the programme, urging participants to uphold the spirit of fair play.

 

“Let us all exhibit the spirit of sportsmanship, as we have been enjoined. Compete very well, and we assure you that almost everybody would go home with something,” Oshinowo said.

The draws were supervised by Meranda and Orekoya, marking another stage in preparations for the annual sporting competition.

The organisers said that the event was intended to combine celebration with a commitment to physical fitness, camaraderie and the development of sporting talents across government institutions.