The Chairman of the Local Organising Committee (LOC) of the 8th Kwara State Sports Festival, KWAFEST 2026, Dr. Steven Olarinoye, and a member of the committee, Hameed Adio OLY, have commended Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq and the Executive Chairman of the Kwara State Sports Commission, Mallam Bolakale Adisa Mogaji, for their contributions to the successful staging of the nine-day sports festival.
The festival, which brought together athletes and officials from all 16 Local Government Areas of the state, ended on Saturday at the Rashidi Yekini Mainbowl of the General George Agbazika Innih Stadium Complex, Ilorin, after nine days of competitions and healthy rivalries.
In his assessment of the festival, Dr. Olarinoye described KWAFEST 2026 as a demonstration of what could be achieved through unity, teamwork and a collective sense of purpose.
He commended the leadership and staff of the Kwara State Sports Commission, members of the LOC and Main Organising Committee (MOC), the participating LGAs, athletes and officials for working together as a “united family” to deliver a successful festival.
The LOC Chairman particularly praised Governor AbdulRazaq for providing an enabling environment for sports development, as well as adequate moral and financial support for the festival.
He also commended the Executive Chairman of the Kwara State Sports Commission, Mallam Bolakale Adisa Mogaji, describing his leadership as instrumental to the success of the event.
According to Olarinoye, Mogaji gave the LOC the necessary freedom to operate, which contributed significantly to the smooth organisation and successful conclusion of the festival.
He equally appreciated sports-loving Kwarans for their support and composure throughout the nine-day fiesta, while acknowledging the contributions of sports journalists and media practitioners who positively projected the festival to the wider public.
Similarly, Hameed Adio OLY, a member of the LOC, described KWAFEST 2026 as a story of “All’s Well That Ends Well,” noting that the festival provided a platform for discovering hidden talents and exposing grassroots athletes to modern sporting facilities.
Adio said nearly 800 young athletes from the 16 LGAs participated in 22 sporting events during the festival, which featured displays of determination, resilience, courage, discipline and healthy competition.
He noted that the success of the festival extended beyond the medal table, as athletes who did not win medals also gained valuable exposure, friendships, connections and experience.
According to him, the renovation of existing sporting facilities and construction of new ones by the state government added colour and quality to the festival, while providing many grassroots athletes with their first opportunity to compete in modern sporting facilities.
Adio attributed a significant part of the festival’s success to the commitment of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, who, he said, demonstrated purposeful leadership by providing the facilities and support required for the successful planning and delivery of KWAFEST 2026.
He also praised the Kwara State Sports Commission under the leadership of Mogaji for organising the festival and providing the necessary coordination that enabled the various committees to deliver their responsibilities.
The LOC member noted that the Commission would be expected to study the performances recorded during the festival and develop a comprehensive database of emerging talents and promising athletes who could represent the state at higher levels in the future.
He further highlighted the economic benefits of the festival, particularly the patronage received by small-scale businesses and sports equipment vendors operating within and around the stadium complex.
Adio described the festival as a peaceful and successful event, noting that it recorded no major security breach, serious health disaster or communal clash throughout the nine-day programme.
He said the festival was characterised by “safety, love, friendship, camaraderie, understanding, harmony, unity and peace.”
Meanwhile, Ilorin West emerged as the overall winner of KWAFEST 2026 with 21 gold, seven silver and 11 bronze medals. Asa Local Government finished second with 20 gold, 25 silver and 27 bronze medals, while Ifelodun placed third with 19 gold, 16 silver and 27 bronze medals.
The two LOC members expressed optimism that the success of KWAFEST 2026 would mark another important step in the development of grassroots sports in Kwara State.
They also called for sustained investment in sporting infrastructure, talent development and athlete welfare to ensure that the talents discovered during the festival are properly nurtured into future champions.
KWAFEST 2026, they noted, was not merely a competition for medals but a celebration of unity, talent, friendship and the sporting potential of Kwara State.
