Nigerian National Sports Festival

The Nigerian National Sports Festival is a biennial multi-sport event organized by the Federal Government of Nigeria through the National Sports Commission for athletes from the 36 States of Nigeria.[1][2]

Started and staged in 1973 at the National Stadium, Surulere in Lagos, the game was originally conceived as a "unifying tool" with the main purpose of promoting peace and cross-cultural affiliation in Nigeria after the Nigerian Civil War in 1970.[3] The game also serves as a development and training event to aid athletes prepare for continental and international meets.[4] The objectives of the National Sports Festival is:

  • To build a robust talent pool of athletes
  • To enhance and elevate sports at grassroots level
  • To establish a standard programme for athletes’ succession
  • To enhance and elevate sports at grassroots level
  • To curb age cheating in Sports
  • To encourage early participation in Sports
  • To engage young athletes in the Olympic Movement, skill development and social responsibility
  • To enhance cultural and educational development
  • To promote National unity[5]
  1. ^ Tell. Tell Communications Limited. 2009.
  2. ^ Directory of Hotels and Catering Establishments in Nigeria. Jalo Consultants.
  3. ^ Osaretin Emuze (18 November 2012). "National Sports Festival: 39 years after". Vanguard. Retrieved 16 September 2015.
  4. ^ "History of Sports In Nigeria". Online Nigeria. Retrieved 16 September 2015.
  5. ^ ">National Sports Festival - Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development". www.nigeriasportsfestival.org. Retrieved 2020-05-24.