The National Sports Commission (NSC) has confirmed Bayelsa and Kaduna states as the next hosts for the prestigious National Sports Festival.
Bayelsa will stage the 2028 edition. Kaduna is set to host in 2030. This marks a significant development for both states and Nigerian sports.
For Bayelsa State, this will be its inaugural time welcoming athletes from across the federation. Kaduna State will host the festival for the third time. Their previous hosting years were 1977 and 2009.
NSC Hails States’ Readiness and Future Plans
Honourable Bukola Olopade, the Director General of the NSC, praised both states. He noted their strong intent and readiness to host Nigeria’s largest domestic sporting event.
Olopade expressed satisfaction with the festival’s renewed appeal. He stated, “We are glad that we have made the Sports Festival attractive again.” States are now showing serious interest in hosting, he added.
This resurgence is due to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s focus on the sports sector. His administration has prioritised sports development.
The commission has a long-term strategy. It aims to reshape the festival’s structure and restore its prestige. This effort is part of the “Renewed Hope Initiative for the Nigerian Sports Economy.”
Olopade highlighted recent successes. He mentioned the 2025 National Sports Festival in Ogun State. It was hailed as the best ever in the festival’s history.
However, the NSC plans to raise the bar further. This includes the 2026 Games in Enugu, followed by Bayelsa 2028 and Kaduna 2030.
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