Sports
Sports Director Appeals For Fund
Mr Livinus Agwu, the newly appointed acting Director of Sports, Enugu State Sports Council, has appealed for funds from the state government to move sports forward.
Agwu told newsmen in Enugu that the council needed funds and other logistics to plan adequately for sports development.
He said that Enugu, being a sports-loving state, had the potential of producing talented athletes and coaches who could hold their own anywhere.
“We have viable sportsmen and women but we lose them to other states because of a lack of funds to assist them or gainfully employ them.
“Today’s sports need money to keep it moving because it is capital intensive and can also generate revenue and promote the image of the state nationally and internationally,’’ he said.
He also appealed to government and philanthropists to assist the council to develop sports.
According to him, the council is the hub for producing talents and coaches and we has the raw talents to pick from.
On National Sports Festival, Agwu said the council had sensitised the coaches to go to the grass roots to fish out talents who would represent it at zonal eliminations and the festival in November.
“Our intention first and foremost is to build our staff morale because before now their morale has been low and we want to wake the coaches up,’’ Agwu said.
The director said training of athletes had already commenced but the problems being faced by the council was that of poor funding.
Agwu said the council had also submitted estimates for the state’s participation in a mini-state festival in August, zonal eliminations for ball games in October and then the festival proper.
“I assure you that the council will change the records and situation of the state at competitions,’’ he said.
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.
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