Sports
NSF:Edo 2020 May Hold August
As Nigerian sportsmen and women grapple with the reality of going through the 2020 season without a competition, Sports Ministry and Edo 2020 officials are eyeing August or September to run the postponed National Sports Festival.
The NSF was just one week to commencement when the Sports Minister, Sunday Dare pulled the plug due to concerns about the fast-spreading coronavirus.
Almost every other major sports event around the world were cancelled or postponed.
These include the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, for which many Nigerian athletes have picked qualification. The Olympics have now been rescheduled for the summer of 2021.
Obviously aware of the predicament of Nigerian athletes in the various sports, in having to train with no competition in sight, Nigerian sports officials are eager to see the recession of the COVID-19 pandemic and at least give the athletes something to cheer in 2020.
“Of course, we hope to see the rollback of coronavirus in the next few months. The sports ministry and the Edo State government would be glad to run the festival. “We are looking at August or September at most. Edo 2020 has ever been good to go, if not for the worldwide health emergency,” said Yusuf Alli, a former African long jump champion and current national record holder who is a top member of the Edo 2020 Local Organizing Committee.
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.