The Federal Government (FG) and Enugu State Government have officially signed the host state agreement for the 2026 National Sports Festival, which is set to take place in the South East.
The agreement was signed on Tuesday by Hon. Bukola Olopade, Director-General of the National Sports Commission, on behalf of the FG, and Governor Peter Mbah representing Enugu State, granting Enugu full hosting rights for this edition of the National Sports Festival.
During the signing ceremony at the Government House in Enugu, Governor Peter Mbah expressed gratitude to the Commission and various sports stakeholders for their trust in the state and his administration, pledging that they would meet their hosting responsibilities in a manner that would create lasting memories for the athletes and sports enthusiasts in Nigeria and beyond.
“We appreciate the importance of this award and commend the commission for deeming Enugu an ideal choice to host the 23rd National Sports Festival. We are committed to delivering a commendable event.
“As you know, we aspire to be a role model as a state that has held a prominent place for over 115 years. We do not wish to disappoint our forebears and will strive to uphold this standard.
“We have already hit the ground running. Immediately the announcement was made, we mobilised our team. We are actively working on revitalising the Awgu Games Village, among other initiatives. Our goal is to present a brand new Games Village. Additionally, we are undertaking a complete renovation of the stadium.
“We intend for you to be highly impressed when you visit by the end of this year. It will not only involve revamping and rebranding; we will also construct new facilities alongside the existing ones. We are looking forward to providing a world-class experience for the athletes, ensuring that our hosting creates lasting memories,” he stated.
Earlier in his address, Hon. Olopade highlighted that the commission was encouraged by Enugu’s bid, the available facilities, enhanced security in the state, and Governor Mbah’s commitment to transforming the sports and social infrastructure, which justified Enugu being selected to host the event following the 22nd edition in Ogun State.
The National Sports Commission boss also noted that hosting the festival would boost investment and tourism in the state before, during, and after the event.
