THE 2026 National Sports Festival in Enugu State, tagged Coal City Games, has continued to attract huge support as the South East Development Commission (SEDC), is the latest institution to partner the Games.
Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Commission, Mark Okoye, has pledged the commission’s financial support to the Coal City Games.
The SEDC MD said supporting the Games is part of the broader mandate of the Commission to drive meaningful impact and Development in every sector in the South East.
“We are very enthusiastic to be part of the Coal City Games because we know the power of sports in the development of our youth in the South East region, and we are also very excited to identify with the transformation currently going on with Nigerian sports under the leadership of the National Sports Commission.
“We saw how the Festival took a huge transformation with the Gateway Games last year, and we have no doubt that the Coal City Games will be another huge success,” Okoye stated.
“And these broader transformations of Nigerian sports is as a result of the massive support Nigerian sports is enjoying from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, who has been backing all our renewed hope initiatives for Nigeria sports development.
“It must also be stressed that this is the first time in 28 years that the Southeast will be hosting the festival and we must thank Mr President for making sure the region is an integral part of his clear mandate for empowerment and development,” he said.
Speaking further, Olopade said: “The Coal City Games in Enugu Sate promises to be another step forward from the gains we recorded from the Gateway Games, especially with this kind of financial support from institutions like the South East Development Commission (SEDC).”
“I want to thank the MD of the SEDC, Mark Okoye, on behalf of the Chairman of the Sports Commission, Mallam Shehu Dikko and the entire commission, and I urge more corporate bodies to join the train as the Commission is clearly determined to make the National Sports Festival a world-class competition.”
