By
Hameed Adio OLY
Member, LOC KWAFEST 2O26 .
Just yesterday, the Rashidi Yekini mainbowl of the General George Agbazika Innih Stadium in Ilorin, Kwara State ,came alive as the curtain fell on the 8th Kwara State Sports Festival, KWAFEST 2026, spanning nine days of intense competitions and healthy rivalries.
They came from all the 16 Local Governments of the State.
From the predominantly agrarian communities of Baruten and Kaiama, the proud fishing destinations of Edu,Patigi and Moro in Kwara North, the enterprising towns and resourceful communities spread across Kwara South,to the State’s economic nerve center and more cosmopolitan environments of Ilorin ,the State Capital which doubles as the arrow head of four of the16 LGAS, close to 800 young men and women tested their mettle, vied for honors in 22 Sporting events with most of the events concentrated in one area making movements and other logistics relatively easy.
For nine solid days, they played, ran, smashed, spiked, rallied, lifted, boxed, kicked and wrestled in the Sports fiesta signposted by the display of excitement, raw energy, determination, resilience, tenacity, staying power, drive,courage, class and commitment.
To ensure a hitchfree and smooth sail of festival proceedings, several sub-committees were set up to handle different assignments leading up to the successful staging of the Sports Fiesta, the second within the 8- year life span of this administration, the first being the 7th edition staged in 2020.
These included Technical, Accommodation,Accreditation, Venues and Feeding sub committees.
Others are, Transport, Security, Ceremonial, Medical,Electrical, Media & Publicity, all operating under the wider coordination/umbrella of both the Local and Main Organizing Committees ( LOC & MOC).
They all worked hard to deliver a flawless Sports Festival.
This is not forgetting the fact that 50% of the success story of KWAFEST 2026 was prompted by the State Government itself, as exemplified by the purpose-driven leadership of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRasaq CON, who ensured the provision of excellent facilities which made the festival top notch in planning, organization and final delivery.
The massive renovation of existing facilities and construction of new ones, added color and class to the performance of the athletes, most of them coming across such facilities for the very first time.
The athletes came, they saw, they marveled, some triumphed, while others who could not, garnered experience and exposure.
Those who could not win medals, won friends, built bridges of understanding and unity, got linked up with acquaintances, establishing connections, capable of lasting a lifetime.
The huge success of KWAFEST 2026, is not only measured by the individual placement of the 16 LGAS on the overall medal table as it was with Ilorin West that placed first with 21 Gold, 7 Silver and 11 Bronze medals, Asa coming a close second with 20 Gold, 25 Silver and 27 Bronze, while Ilorin East secured the third position having won a total of 19 Gold ,16 Silver and 27 Bronze medals.
What makes KWAFEST 2026 very unique, stems from the enormous hidden talents now discovered, the exposure of our grassroots athletes to modern sporting facilities capable of catapaulting them to greater prospects, higher opportunities and endless possibilities.
The Kwara State Sports Commission, organizers of the festival will by now be going through records of performances to come up with a strong and rich data base, detailing emerging talents, promising young stars and dependable/ capable replacement of some of our aging Sportsmen and women to keep the wheel of our sporting progress rolling.
One would not also forget in a hurry, the economic life line the festival has provided our small scale business enterprises and owners of various sport equipment shops within the stadium complex,patronized by the athletes and their officials .
KWAFEST 2026 was indeed a Sports Festival which witnessed no security challenge/breach, no serious health concern/disaster and zero communal clash but that characterized by safety,love, friendship, camaraderie, understanding, harmony, unity and peace.
For us in Kwara, it’s certainly getting BETTER by the day as the story of KWAFEST 2026, the 8th Kwara State Sports Festival, is indeed that of “ALL’S WELL THAT ENDS WELL”.
Kudos to all those who made KWAFEST 2026, a remarkable success story.
To God be the glory.
