Sports
Directors Beg Buhari To Host NSF
The Nigeria Directors of Sports Forum at the weekend appealed to President Mohammed Buhari to urgently resuscitate the hosting of National Sports Festival (NSF).
The Chairman of the Forum, Tunde Kazeem, made the call in Ilorin while speaking at the Joint Technical meeting of the third edition of National Youth Games (NYG).
Kazeem said the Nigeria‘s standard in sports was falling because the country’s Olympic has not been hosted since the 18th edition in Lagos in 2012.
“We are not happy that the 19th NSF has not seen the light of the day.
“The Minister should brace up and ensure that the 19th edition of NSF happened this year.
“We appeal to President Buhari to bail the country out as far as the hosting of NSF is concerned.
“We want President Buhari to give an immediate intervention to the 19th NSF,” Kazeem said.
The former Badminton National Coordinator appreciated the National Assembly for working on a law that would establish the National Sports Commission.
Kwara Governor, Abdulfatah Ahmed, while declaring open the meeting, said grassroots sports development was key in nurturing young athletes to stardom.
Ahmed, represented by the Commissioner for Sports and Youth Development, Bolakale Ayo, urged the meeting to work out ways to make the youth games a success.
Ahmed said that the National Youth Games was providing an effective platform for talent identification at the grass roots level to achieve excellence in sports.
The governor described the state as home of grass roots sports development in Nigeria, saying that government‘s commitment had yielded in winning laurels in age grade competitions such as Handball, Badminton, Squash and Table Tennis.
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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