Tinubu to Declare Enugu 2026 National Sports Festival Open on November 28
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will declare the 23rd National Sports Festival, scheduled to hold in Enugu from November 28, open, National Sports Commission (NSC) Director-General Bukola Olopade has said.
Olopade confirmed the date on Wednesday after a joint technical meeting involving state directors of sports, officials of the Main Organising Committee (MOC), the Local Organising Committee (LOC) and representatives of national sports federations, alongside an inspection of venues for the Games.
The festival, tagged Coal City Games Enugu 2026, is expected to attract about 12,000 athletes and officials from across Nigeria, with contingents scheduled to begin arriving on November 26.
Olopade said the inspection and technical meeting had addressed key concerns over preparations, expressing confidence that Enugu would be ready to host the event.
He said renovation work at Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium and other facilities had gathered momentum following engagements with contractors, while funding for the organising committees and equipment required for the Games had been arranged.
‘You will not recognise the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium as you used to know it,’ Olopade said, describing the planned renovation and branding of the stadium.
He added that the swimming pool was expected to be ready for use by November 18. The projects are being funded by the Federal Government, according to the NSC director-general.
Olopade also commended Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah and the state’s Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Lloyd Ekweremadu, for their commitment to preparations, describing the host city as secure and enthusiastic about welcoming participants.
‘What we have seen in Enugu gives us confidence. The people of Enugu are enthusiastic and eagerly waiting to welcome all of us to this wonderful, great city,’ he said.
The NSC director-general, who chairs the festival’s MOC, urged Nigerians to disregard negative reports about the preparations, saying the country had demonstrated its capacity to host major sporting events.
Enugu State Commissioner for Youth and Sports Ekweremadu welcomed officials attending the meeting and inspection, assuring them that observations raised about facilities would be addressed before the opening ceremony.
The MOC secretary and NSC Director of Festival and Para-Sports, Thecla Opara, had earlier outlined issues identified by the inspection teams and urged the state government to make the necessary corrections.
LOC secretary Bamiduro Olumide also assured stakeholders that the observations would be considered as preparations continued.
The festival is one of Nigeria’s major multi-sport events, bringing together athletes representing states across the federation to compete in various sports.
