A total of 180 athletes from Team Lagos are expected to take part in the sixth edition of the National School Sports Festival scheduled to hold from 20-30 November at the Ilorin Township Stadium, Kwara State, Nigeria.

Twenty three sports will feature in the Games that will last for ten days, while Team Lagos will be involved only in 13 sports.

Director of Sports, Lagos State Sports Council, Dr Kweku Tandoh, charged the athletes to abide by the rules and regulation of the Games. He also tasked them to give their best and ensure that Team Lagos come out on top.

"Our preparation is solid and quite encouraging. It is my belief that our athletes can go all the way and make the state proud. I am expecting good performance from the athletes and I want to wish them best of luck in their outing," said Tandoh, who disclosed that no fewer than 33 Sports Officers will accompany the athletes to Ilorin 2013.

Meanwhile president of the Nigeria School Sports Federation NSSF, Ibrahim Mohammed said the federation has been offered over N42million by sponsors; Sterling Bank (N35m) and Nestle Milo (N7m). The mascot and the logo for the schools sports tournament were unveiled at a media parley last week at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere, Lagos.

Kwara State government says it is ready for the tourney which will feature 6,000 athletes. Sports Director of the state, Tunde Kazeem said the facilities in Ilorin are world class, adding that the athletes and officials from the states across the federation will enjoy the good hospitality of the people and government of the state.

Chairman of Nigeria Academicals Sports Committee, NASCOM, Mr. Yemi Idowu corroborated Kazeem's statement on the readiness of Kwara government for the tournament, saying that he had been in Ilorin for an inspection visit where he saw the preparation of the government for the competition.

"The government of Kwara State has indeed put in place world class facilities for the schools sports festival and it is my believe that the children will enjoy the championship.