pristinegist 
Mogaji urges councils to showcase homegrown talents, shun athlete-buying
Ahead of the 8th Kwara State Sports Festival, the newly inaugurated Organising Committee of the festival, led by the Executive Chairman of the Kwara State Sports Commission, Coach Bolakale Adisa Mogaji, has engaged the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), Kwara State chapter, on strategies for a successful hosting of the competition.
The meeting, held at the ALGON Secretariat in Ilorin, was attended by chairmen of the 16 local government councils in the state and was aimed at ensuring effective collaboration between the organising committee and the councils ahead of the festival scheduled to hold from August 21 to 29, 2026.
Speaking at the meeting, Coach Mogaji said the festival was designed primarily to engage young people, discover and develop emerging sporting talents, empower youths through sports and promote unity among the people of Kwara State.
He urged the local government chairmen to direct their respective sports officers to identify and present talented athletes from their communities, stressing that the festival should not become an avenue for councils to recruit or buy athletes from outside their jurisdictions.
According to him, relying on imported athletes would defeat the fundamental objectives of the state sports festival, which include grassroots talent discovery and development.
Mogaji also highlighted the efforts of the Executive Governor of Kwara State, Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, towards ensuring the success of the 8th Kwara State Sports Festival, noting that the Governor’s support has provided the necessary backing for the state to host a competitive and impactful festival.
He further explained the rules and expectations for participating local governments, including the requirements for their contingents and the need for strict compliance with the regulations guiding the festival.
The Executive Chairman assured the local government councils that arrangements had been made for key welfare components of the festival, including security, accommodation and feeding, as approved by Governor AbdulRazaq.
He called on the council chairmen to work closely with the organising committee to ensure that the festival achieves its objectives and provides a platform for young Kwarans to showcase their talents.
Responding on behalf of the local government chairmen, the Chairman of ALGON, Kwara State chapter and Chairman of Kaiama Local Government Council, Mallam Abdullahi Abubakar Danladi, appreciated the sports commission and the organising committee for engaging the councils again ahead of the festival.
Danladi pledged the commitment and cooperation of the local government chairmen towards ensuring the smooth organisation and success of the 8th Kwara State Sports Festival.
He assured the committee that the councils would play their part in mobilising genuine grassroots talents and providing the necessary support to their contingents.
The engagement further strengthened the partnership between the Kwara State Sports Commission and the local government councils, with both sides reaffirming their commitment to making the 2026 edition of the state sports festival a successful platform for talent discovery, youth development, empowerment and unity across Kwara State.
About The Author
