Kwara State Sports Festival logo unveiled as 700 athletes line up

The Kwara State Sports Commission has unveiled the logo and mascot for the 8th Kwara State Sports Festival, with approximately 700 athletes expected to compete. Participants from all 16 local government areas will take part in 28 sporting events during the multi-sport programme.

The festival is scheduled for August 21 to 29, 2026, at the George Agbazika Innih Stadium Complex in Ilorin. Each local government area can register up to 100 athletes across the competitions, while the overall field is expected to include both male and female competitors.

The unveiling took place on Tuesday, August 18, at the commission’s conference room in Ilorin. Bola Mogaji, the commission’s executive chairman and chairman of the main organising committee, credited Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, and the 16 local government chairmen with supporting youth and sports development.

Preparations were reported to be more than 60 percent complete. Steve Olarinoye, chairman of the local organising committee, said the event was on course, with accreditation for athletes and officials set for Friday, August 21. The opening ceremony will follow on Saturday, August 22.

The return of the festival follows a break linked to renovation and construction work at the stadium complex. Mogaji said the state competition was revived in 2000 with the intention of making it a biennial event, although that schedule was later interrupted by the facility work.

The organisers see the festival as a chance to put the upgraded venues into use while giving emerging athletes competitive experience and exposure. The event is also expected to help identify talent for future representation of Kwara at higher levels, alongside its broader aim of bringing together communities from across the state.