From March the 22nd 2020, Edo State, will play host to the National Sports Festival. Plans have been ongoing by the Edo State government with the Federal Ministry Of Youth and Sports Development, headed by Mr. Sunday Dare providing a supervisory role on behalf of the Federal Government, owners of the Games.
The Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development and the Edo state government will undertake a joint inspection of venues and facilities for the 20th edition of the National Sports Festival. Venues to be inspected include: the newly renovated Samuel Ogbemudia stadium which will host the opening and closing ceremonies of the event, the University of Benin Games Village, Indoor Sports halls among others.
The National Sports Festival which was intoduced in 1973, had its first two editions in Lagos. It’s original mission was to discover young sports talents from different parts of the country to eventually represent the country at international competitions and to promote the spirit of healthy competition, unity, patriotism and nationalism amongst Nigerian youth in the wake of the Civil War that ended in 1970.
It would be recalled that the last edition National Sports Festival was hosted by Abuja the nation’s capital with Delta state emerging overall champions of one of the oldest sporting events in the country.
