News Investigators/ Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has pledged the state government’s full support for the successful hosting of the 2026 Confederation of African Football (CAF) Awards in Lagos on Dec. 7.
Mr Sanwo-Olu gave the assurance while receiving a CAF delegation led by the Project Lead for CAF Awards and CAF General Assembly, Dr Christian Emeruwa, during a courtesy visit to Lagos House, Marina, on Sunday.
He said that the state government would give the necessary attention to security, logistics, branding and venue access to ensure a hitch-free ceremony.
The governor described Lagos as a major commercial, cultural, entertainment and technology hub in Africa, noting that its diversity, youthful population and economic significance made it suitable for hosting major international events.
“Lagos is ready to partner with CAF to ensure a successful awards ceremony that will leave a positive impression on officials, football stakeholders and visitors from across the world.
“We see this as an opportunity to showcase our hospitality, organisational capacity and the enormous potential of Lagos as a destination for international events,” he said.
Sanwo-Olu said the state would work with relevant stakeholders to provide a welcoming and secure environment for participants and guests attending the ceremony.
Earlier, Emeruwa said that the delegation was in Nigeria for a five-day mission to inspect proposed venues and assess preparations for the CAF Awards in Lagos and the CAF General Assembly in Abuja.
He described the CAF Awards as one of Africa’s major annual non-competitive football events, recognising outstanding players, officials and national teams for their achievements during the year under review.
Emeruwa said the Dec. 7 ceremony would attract prominent figures in African and international football, including representatives of the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) and other international guests.
He called for the support of the Lagos State Signage and Advertisement Agency (LASAA) to facilitate publicity and branding across the state.
The CAF official also requested that security operations be led by the Lagos State Government in coordination with CAF’s security team to ensure adequate protection for participants and guests.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the CAF Awards celebrate excellence and outstanding contributions to African football, bringing together leading players, coaches, administrators and other stakeholders from across the continent.
NAN
