A brand-new school bus sponsored by Mikano Changan Motors will be among the prizes at the second edition of the Pan African School Games, which begins at James Hope College, Lagos, on Friday.

No fewer than 400 student-athletes are expected to participate in the three-day competition, which runs from October 16 to 18, with athletics, swimming and football featuring across the U-11, U-13 and U-15 age categories.

The event, formerly known as the Africa School Games, will bring together schools from across Nigeria following the success of its inaugural edition at British International School, Lagos, which attracted 11 schools and more than 300 student-athletes.

Athletics and swimming will each feature 30 events, while participating schools will compete for honours in football.

Founded by Seun Akinbohun, Busola Tejumola and Aderoju Ope-Ajayi, the competition aims to combine sporting excellence with education, career development and cultural exchange.

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The organisers said the rebranding to Pan African School Games reflects their ambition to establish a continental platform for youth development through sport.

They added that the competition would provide opportunities for promising athletes to showcase their abilities to scouts, agents and educational institutions, potentially opening pathways to international scholarships.

Through partnerships with organisations such as Plumptre Advisory, athletes are also being connected with international schools, including McCallie School in the United States and Bethany School, Buckswood School and Roedean School in the United Kingdom.

The 2026 edition has attracted support from organisations including Prime Atlantic, Zenith Bank, Mikano Changan, UAC Foods, Nigerian Exchange and Flutterwave, as well as the Lagos State Government and Lagos State Sports Commission.

The organisers said lessons from the inaugural edition had informed improvements in logistics, athlete welfare, safeguarding, medical support and technical delivery.

They also disclosed that schools from Kenya and Ghana are expected to participate in the 2027 edition as the competition expands beyond Nigeria. (PUNCH)