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]
References
- ^ Tell. Tell Communications Limited. 2009.
- ^ Directory of Hotels and Catering Establishments in Nigeria. Jalo Consultants.
- ^ Osaretin Emuze (18 November 2012). "National Sports Festival: 39 years after". Vanguard. Retrieved 16 September 2015.
- ^ "History of Sports In Nigeria". Online Nigeria. Retrieved 16 September 2015.
- ^ ">National Sports Festival - Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development". www.nigeriasportsfestival.org. Retrieved 2020-05-24.