The Federal Government and the Enugu State Government on Tuesday signed a Memorandum of Understanding for the hosting of the 23rd National Sports Festival in the state in 2026.
The agreement was signed by the Director-General of the National Sports Commission, Mr Bukola Olopade for the federal government and Gov. Peter Mbah for Enugu State.
Speaking at the event held at the Government House, Enugu, Mbah thanked the commission and other sports stakeholders for the confidence reposed in the state and his administration to stage the event.
He promised that the state would discharge its hosting responsibilities in a way that would leave a lifelong memory and experience on the athletes and all lovers of sports in Nigeria and beyond.
The governor said the state government had begun revamping existing facilities and construction of new sports project in preparation for the hosting of the sports festival.
“We also appreciate the value and significance of this award. I want to commend the commission for finding Enugu worthy of being the next host of the 23rd National Sports Festival. We are going to discharge ourselves creditably.
“We have already set forth at dawn. Immediately that announcement was made, we mobilised our team. We are already working on revamping the Awgu Games Village and a whole lot.
“The state has decided to deliver a brand new Games Village. We are also completely renovating the Nnamdi Azikiwe, Enugu stadium to brand new,” Mbah said.
According to him, by the time you come here by the end of this year, you are going to be highly impressed. It is not revamping, rebranding or re-equipping, but we are also going to build additional facilities to the existing one.
“We are looking forward to having a world-class experience befitting the sports men and women, making our hosting a lifelong memory and experience”.
Earlier in an address, Olopade said the commission was encouraged by Enugu’s bid, available facilities, improved security in the state and Mbah’s determination to turn around the sports and social infrastructure to grant Enugu the right to host the festival.
The National Sports Commission boss added that the hosting would boost investment and tourism in the state before, during and after the event.
