By Olasunkanmi Akoni
The Lagos State Ministry of Youth and Social Development has backed a major multi-sport endurance initiative spearheaded by swimming coach and mental health advocate Dare Samuel Akinrodoye, widely known as Coach Dreh.
Tagged “Project 226 – Endurance Has No Visa,” the single-day challenge will see Akinrodoye traverse the distance from Osun State to Lagos through a combined 3.8-kilometer swim, 180-kilometer cycle, and 42.2-kilometer marathon run.
The initiative gained momentum following its endorsement by the Lagos State Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Mobolaji Ogunlende, who introduced Akinrodoye to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to brief the administration on the athlete’s track record and upcoming advocacy campaign.
Akinrodoye, who made headlines in 2024 after swimming the length of the Third Mainland Bridge to raise awareness for suicide prevention and mental health support, described the new challenge as a natural extension of his work.
“I am not just an athlete or a swimming coach; I am also a mental-health advocate who uses sports for development to pass a message.
“Endurance Has No Visa” ethos aims to show young people that athletic determination transcends geographic limits,” Akinrodoye said.
Beyond testing physical limits, Project 226 is structured as a platform to promote sports participation, healthy living, youth resilience, and mental well-being across the region.
Akinrodoye is appealing to the Lagos State Government, corporate organizations, sports federations, and development partners to assist with logistical, technical, and financial backing to transition the event from an individual accomplishment into a repeatable annual youth-development platform.
Coach Dreh
Local sports stakeholders have commended Commissioner Ogunlende’s involvement, identifying it as a crucial step in bridging grassroots athletic talent with public-sector backing.
