Sports
Cross River Win NSS Trophy For Keeps
Team Cross River has
emerged champions of the sixth edition of the National Schools Sports Festival with 115 gold medals, 78 silver and 61 bronze medals.
The festival’s final medals table was announced by the Tunde Kazeem-led Technical Sub-Committee of the festival’s Local Organising Committee (LOC).
The announcement was made during the closing ceremony over the weekend in Ilorin of the competition, which was sponsored by Sterling Bank.
Team Cross River won the competition for keeps after its triumph in 2011 at home and again in Port Harcourt in 2012, before repeating the feat in Ilorin in 2013.
Team Lagos came second with 49 gold, 43 silver and 54 bronze medals, while Team Anambra were third after garnering 48 gold, 49 silver and 63 bronze medals.
Ondo finished in fourth place with 32 gold, 46 silver and 56 bronze medals, while host state Kwara placed fifth with 16 gold, 21 silver and 30 bronze medals.
Team Ogun won 14 gold, 19 silver and 20 bronze medals to finish sixth, while Niger occupied the seventh position with 11 gold, 13 silver and 22 bronze medals.
Team Rivers finished in the eighth position with eight gold, seven silver and 15 bronze medals, while Imo placed ninth with four gold, seven silver and 14 bronze medals.
Team Kano occupied the 10th position with four gold, six silver and five bronze medals, while Kogi stood in the 11th position with three gold, four silver and five bronze medals.
Osun won the 12th position with three gold, two silver and four bronze medals, while Sokoto also picked three gold, two silver and four bronze medals to finish in the 13th place.
Kaduna which has two gold, 12 silver and nine bronze medals occupied the 14th position, while Akwa Ibom was in 15th place with two gold, four silver and 11 bronze medals.
Oyo has two gold, three silver and five bronze medals to finish in 16th place, while Team Jigawa has one gold, one silver and five bronze medals for 17th place.
Team Taraba is 18th on the final medals table with two silver and three bronze medals, with Benue and Adamawa winning no medal.
Speaking while declaring the festival closed, the Kwara Governor, Abdulfatah Ahmed, thanked everyone who helped in making the festival a success in spite of the short notice.
“I also congratulate the National Schools Sports Federation (NSSF) for a successful festival and I hope the high standard will be maintained.
“The festival should be a platform for the future of sports in the country,’’ the governor, who was represented by the state Head of Service, Dabarako Mohammed, said.
He said the state would always be ready to host competitions of such magnitude, and pledged that sporting facilities in the state would be upgraded.
“This will aid the development of athletes discovered by the state in the festival,’’ the governor 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.