Sports
Administrator Urges Enugu To Bid For NSF
The Chairman, Enugu Sports Club, Richard Agu, has urged the state government to bid to host the next National Sports Festival, saying the step is long overdue.
Agu made the call at the weekend in Enugu when executives of the state chapter of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) paid him a courtesy visit.
“Let Enugu try and host the National Sports Festival. Of the three and later four regional capitals in Nigeria, it is only Enugu that has not hosted it.
“The first two were in Lagos — 73 and 75 — by that time, I was playing U-13 tennis and U-13 swimming. In `75, I was also in Lagos. In `77 it was taken to Kaduna. I played basketball for old Anambra State in `77 in Kaduna, and in `79, we went to Ibadan. In `83 it came to Benin , which is the fourth state capital of a region.
“So you find out that everybody has hosted, including Port Harcourt, including Calabar, including those that are not regional capitals, so it is really not good that Enugu has never hosted.”
Imo is the only state in the South East geo-political zone to have hosted the festival.
It hosted the 11th edition of the competition in 1998, which was tagged ‘Imo 98’.
The chairman said that hosting of the competition would lift the morale of athletes and assist in upgrading the state’s sports facilities.
Agu said that for sports to grow in the country; there was need to introduce it in primary schools and extend it to secondary schools.
“I am a great believer of sports and football. I played football and basketball during my youth days.
“We must host intra and inter school competitions in Enugu State because great sportsmen like Akeem Olajuwon, Innocent Egbunike, Christian Chukwu and Patrick Ekeji, among others, started from secondary schools.”
The chairman commended the media for the coverage of sports in the state and solicited the assistance of the association in the promotion of other sports like cricket, badminton, handball and volleyball, among others.
Nobert Okolie, the SWAN chairman in the state, said that the essence of the visit was to felicitate and partner with the club in the coverage of other sports in the state.
The Bayelsa State government, yesterday, announced that the marathon will be held on Saturday, April 4, 2026.
The inaugural race is owned by the Bayelsa State Government and will be organised by Nilayo Sports Management Limited, a sports management company.
Under the theme “The Reveal,” the race represents a bold unveiling of Bayelsa’s immense human and cultural potential to the international community, inviting the world to witness the resilience, grit, and talent rooted in the heart of the Niger Delta.
According to the organisers, the race will be flagged off at 9:30 a.m., at the Opolo Roundabout, guiding participants through a carefully designed 10-kilometre route that highlights the scenic beauty and vibrant atmosphere of Yenagoa.
The course will culminate at Peace Park Square, where athletes will cross the finish line into a grand celebration of endurance, unity, and community spirit.
To elevate the experience for runners and spectators alike, the finish venue will host a high-energy post-race concert featuring performances from top A-list artistes, blending sport and entertainment in a festival-style atmosphere.
The organisers directed all registered participants to collect their race bibs and kits at the designated Peace Park Square between March 30 and April 3, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. daily.
The race, according to them, is currently on track for World Athletics accreditation, underscoring the commitment of both the Bayelsa State Government and Nilayo Sports Management Limited to delivering an event that meets the highest global standards.
The Director General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Bukola Olopade, on Friday continued the Commission’s nationwide appreciation tour with a visit to Abeokuta, where outstanding junior athlete, Majekodunmi Afusat Bisola, was presented with a cheque of N3 million.
The presentation forms part of the NSC’s initiative to recognise and reward exceptional junior athletes who distinguished themselves in 2025 and contributed significantly to Nigeria’s medal haul.
Majekodunmi delivered an impressive run of performances on the track. At the last edition of the National Sports Festival, she stormed to gold in the 400m and the 4x400m relay. She replicated the double triumph at the Confederation of African Athletics (CAA) Junior Championship, in Abeokuta, before emerging as one of the standout stars at the African Youth Games in Luanda, Angola.
Speaking during the presentation, Olopade explained that the Commission deemed it necessary to extend financial appreciation to grassroots athletes after elite performers had earlier received grants running into thousands of dollars.
“A few weeks ago, after paying grants to our elite athletes, we agreed tthere was a need to also appreciate these young, budding talents who made Nigeria proud last year,” he said.
He disclosed that of the 376 medals recorded by Nigerian athletes in 2025, more than 200 were won by grassroots talents, underscoring the importance of sustained investment in youth development.