Nathaniel Mobolade
The Director General of the National Sports Council, Hon. Bukola Olopade, has today announced that Enugu State will host the next edition of the National Sports Festival next year.
Responding to journalists at the MKO Abiola Stadium in Abeokuta during the ongoing Gateway Games 2025, Hon. Olopade called on other states interested in hosting subsequent editions to begin submitting their bids.
“This process ensures that the next host state is well-prepared and adequately equipped to deliver a successful festival”.
Hon. Olopade, noted the importance of early planning in guaranteeing a seamless and impactful event.
Assessing the ongoing Gateway Games, he praised the strong synergy between the Main Organizing Committee (MOC) and the Local Organizing Committee (LOC), which he said contributed immensely to the smooth start of the event. The DG especially, commended the arrangements made for accommodation and feeding, describing them as “superb” with no complaints received from any of the state contingents.
Hon. Olopade also spoke on the strategic inclusion of young athletes—many of whom are champions from the National Youth Games—in this year’s National Sports Festival.
“This is part of our plan to prepare these young talents for the next Olympic Games. The National Sports Festival is a key platform for nurturing future champions,” he added.
It would be recalled that the National Sports Festival, often referred to as Nigeria’s ‘Olympics,’ continues to play a crucial role in promoting unity, youth development, and sports excellence across the country.
