The Chairman of the Lagos State Gymnastics Association and board member of the Gymnastics Federation of Nigeria, Omowunmi Olalere, has stated that the newly launched Olympic City project will help address the housing deficit in Lagos while also promoting sports development in Nigeria.
Project Overview
Olalere, who also serves as the Chief Executive Officer of Numero Global Resources, made these remarks during an interview with The Guardian. She described the initiative as a pioneering mixed-use development that combines residential living with sporting facilities. The land for the project was allocated to the Nigerian Olympic Committee (NOC) approximately three decades ago for sporting purposes.
“The Olympic City project is a flagship development that has just been launched. The land was allocated to the Nigerian Olympic Committee about 30 years ago for sporting development and other activities,” she said.
Facilities and Residential Components
The project, developed in partnership with Olympic Africa, will include tennis courts, football pitches, and volleyball courts for community use, alongside residential apartments. The residential portion will feature two-bedroom, three-bedroom, and four-bedroom apartments, occupying about four hectares of land, which represents roughly 40 percent of the Olympic City site in Lagos.
“We are excited about this project because it will help address the housing deficit in Lagos while also forming a mixed lifestyle, luxury real estate development — a combination of sporting facilities and residential living. It is truly one of a kind in Lagos and in Nigeria,” she added.
Grassroots Sports and Gymnastics
Olalere, who has been involved in grassroots sports and para-sports initiatives for years, shifted her focus to gymnastics after her children participated in the sport at school. She emphasized that Nigeria has abundant untapped talent in gymnastics.
“I realised it is suffering in this country. We have so many undiscovered talents, and I believe that if the right person channels the right resources into the Gymnastics Federation of Nigeria, there is a great deal we can achieve on the world stage,” she said.
She identified inadequate coaching personnel and a shortage of judges as major setbacks for gymnastics development in Nigeria. Olalere advocated for training physical education teachers through FIG certification programs to increase the number of qualified coaches.
Financing and Timeline
The Olympic City project is being executed through a public-private partnership involving Numero Homes and Alpha Co Ltd. Part of the development will be sold to investors, while the NOC will retain athlete hostel accommodation for sporting purposes. The project is expected to be completed within 24 months.
“We have already moved to the site to begin preparations. We will ensure all necessary contractors are put in place and do everything we can to deliver within that timeframe,” she said.
Challenges and Government Intervention
Olalere highlighted poor road infrastructure leading to the site as a major challenge. She called for government intervention to improve the roads and facilitate the movement of materials.
She also expressed willingness to collaborate with other sports federations on similar real estate projects. On balancing business, family, and sports administration, she attributed her success to effective delegation and organizational structure.
Ambitions for Gymnastics Federation
Olalere stated that her decision to seek the presidency of the Gymnastics Federation of Nigeria was driven by a desire to reposition the sport. She decried delays in the federation’s electoral process, which she said have stalled progress and affected athletes’ participation in competitions.
“The athletes have been denied various sporting activities because we do not have a properly constituted federation,” she said. She appealed to the Nigerian Sports Commission to intervene urgently.
Women in Sports Administration
On women’s participation, Olalere noted that the sector is becoming more inclusive, with more women contesting leadership positions. However, she stressed the need to encourage younger women through awareness and mentorship initiatives.
