Enugu State is determined not just to host, but to win the 23rd edition of the National Sports Festival—branded as the Coal City Games 2026—with officials unveiling sweeping plans for infrastructure upgrades, athlete recruitment, and elite-level preparation ahead of Nigeria’s biggest multi-sport event.
Speaking to reporters after the inauguration of the Local Organising Committee (LOC), Enugu State Commissioner for Youth and Sports and LOC Chairman, Barrister Lloyd Ekweremadu, reaffirmed the state’s bold ambition to dominate on home soil.
“We are hosting to win. The Governor is very clear about this. He’s not just interested in organising the event—he wants Enugu to emerge overall champions,” Ekweremadu said.
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According to the commissioner, the state has already begun an aggressive athlete recruitment strategy, targeting both homegrown talent and elite athletes of Enugu origin currently representing other states or competing abroad.
“We have started a comprehensive recruitment of athletes, we’ve made contact with our people across Nigeria and outside. The idea is to assemble a robust contingent,” he explained.
On infrastructure, Ekweremadu highlighted a bold commitment to revamp existing facilities and construct new ones, most notably a brand-new multipurpose Games Village in Awgu, and a total overhaul of the iconic Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, which will serve as the flagship venue for the Games.
“Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium will be comprehensively revamped to a level that will make it almost unrecognisable,” he said.
“In Awgu, where we currently have just an empty piece of land, a full-scale Games Village will rise. Preliminary designs are already in place.”
Governor Mbah and Barr Ekweremadu during the inspection of the Games Village in Awgu. Photo Credit: X
Additional facilities, including an Aquatic Centre, will also be constructed to meet national and international standards.
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Confidence in the state’s readiness was echoed by Chief Davidson Owumi, Chief Operating Officer of the Nigeria Premier Football League and a member of the LOC.
“It’s very possible for Enugu to host successfully, considering the leadership of Governor Mbah and the expertise in the committee,” Owumi said.
“The environment in Enugu is conducive, secure, and affordable, which gives us a big advantage.”
While acknowledging the scale of the task, Owumi stressed the need for coordination and meticulous planning to meet the high expectations.
The National Sports Festival, Nigeria’s largest sporting event, will return to Enugu in September 2026 for the first time in decades.
