Sports
18th NSF: Ekiti Plans Mini Festival For Athletes
The Ekiti State Government, said early in the week that it would organise a mini festival to prepare its athletes for the 18th National Sports Festival, slated to hold in Lagos in November.
The state’s Commissioner for Sport and Youth Development, Folorunsho Olabode, told newsmen that the mini festival would hold in Ado Ekiti.
“The mini festival will enable the state to select the best for the national festival,” he said.
He added that the mini festival would also help the state to determine in which sports it would feature to maximise its performance.
“We will only register for events that we know we will excel most and win gold medals, not just medals and the mini festival will help us determine that,” Olabode said.
The commissioner said that the state, which placed 20th at the last festival in Port Harcourt, had completed plans to improve on its position in Lagos.
According to him, the state government has budgeted enough money to improve and provide good facilities for its athletes training for the festival.
Olabode also said that the increased budget included a good welfare package for the athletes to motivate them to improve their performance at the festival.
He said that the state government had modern facilities on ground for the use of the athletes, adding that the renovation of the Oluyemi Kayode Stadium in Ado-Ekiti had been completed.
“The state had also constructed a new table tennis court while a plan to construct a new indoor sports hall for athletes at the stadium is underway,’’ he said.
He added that some of the state’s coaches had undergone training at the National Institute for Sport in Lagos and Abuja to update their knowledge in new coaching techniques.
The commissioner was confident that all the measures taken by the state government would have a good impact on the state’s performance at the festival.
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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