Omonlei Imadu Calls for Major Reforms to Rescue Nigeria’s National Sports Festival

Posted : 20 October 2026

The National Sports Festival (NSF), established in 1973, is facing calls for major reforms as concerns grow over its grassroots development objectives. Hon. Omonlei Imadu, Vice President of African Boxing (AfB), has warned that the festival is drifting away from its original purpose of discovering young talent and building Nigeria’s sporting future.

In his opinion article titled “The National Sports Festival: A Nursery No Longer at Ease,” Imadu argued that the competition was never intended to become an Olympics between states. Instead, it was designed to serve as a nursery for emerging athletes.

When General Yakubu Gowon and the National Sports Commission established the festival in 1973, following the Nigerian Civil War, the objectives were clear. The competition was meant to reunite Nigerians through sports, encourage states to discover talent in schools and local government areas, and stimulate investment in grassroots coaching and sporting facilities.

However, Imadu believes these objectives have been undermined by practices that prioritise immediate victories over sustainable development.

States Recruit Athletes Instead of Developing Them

Imadu identified athlete poaching as one of the festival’s major problems. He argued that some states now focus on recruiting athletes developed elsewhere rather than building their own grassroots programmes.

He cited the example of a 16-year-old athlete discovered in Bayelsa in January who could end up representing Delta State by November because of financial incentives.

According to Imadu, this approach rewards states that recruit established talent instead of those that invest time and resources in developing athletes. He warned that states could lose the motivation to invest in grassroots sports if other states can simply recruit their most promising athletes.

Age Fraud Threatens Fair Competition

The AfB vice president also raised concerns about age fraud and the participation of experienced athletes in competitions intended to provide opportunities for younger talent.

Using boxing as an example, he questioned the fairness of allowing a 32-year-old boxer described as a junior, with 40 professional bouts behind him, to compete against an 18-year-old athlete from Ekiti who has only recently left secondary school.

Imadu warned that such disparities undermine fair competition and damage the confidence of genuine grassroots athletes. He argued that the festival must protect young competitors rather than expose them to disadvantages that could discourage their continued participation in sports.

Pressure to Win Undermines Sports Development

Imadu also criticised the growing emphasis on winning the overall medal table, particularly among states hosting the festival.

He claimed that some states commit billions of naira to achieve a “host to win” outcome. He warned that the pressure to secure medals can extend to officials and judges, creating conditions that threaten the integrity of competition.

He also linked questionable practices in boxing officiating to lessons that young officials may learn within the festival environment. In his view, a competition intended to promote sportsmanship and development should not encourage a win-at-all-costs culture.

Medal Winners Lack Clear Development Pathways

Another major concern is what happens to athletes after the festival ends. Imadu noted that a young athlete could win gold and return home without a scholarship, access to a training camp or a place in the relevant sports federation’s national ranking system.

Without structured support, medal winners may struggle to progress to higher levels of competition. Some are effectively forced to start again at the next festival, despite their previous achievements.

Imadu warned that this failure to sustain talent means Nigeria risks losing promising athletes before they can represent the country at major international competitions.

Four Reforms Proposed for the National Sports Festival

Imadu outlined four measures he believes could restore the festival’s original purpose.

First, he called for stricter state representation requirements based on state of origin, at least two years of residency and school certificates. Under his proposal, athletes should not represent a state in which they have neither lived nor attended school for the required two-year period.

Second, he proposed splitting the festival into two competitions: an NSF Grassroots event for athletes under 18, strictly based on school participation, and an NSF Elite event with open eligibility. He believes this would give younger athletes a fairer environment to develop and compete.

Third, he recommended integrating festival results into the national ranking systems of the relevant sports federations. Under his proposal, every gold, silver and bronze medal would automatically earn points in the athlete’s federation ranking. This would help connect the festival to established development and selection pathways.

Fourth, he called for the publication of a development score alongside the traditional medal table. States that field 90% home-grown athletes discovered within their own territories should receive recognition for their contribution to grassroots sports. This would reward states for developing talent rather than simply recruiting it.

Imadu argued that these reforms would help return the festival to its original mission of discovering, developing and supporting young Nigerian athletes.

He warned that, without meaningful changes, the National Sports Festival could continue producing medal winners without building a reliable pipeline of athletes for national teams. He also expressed concern that Nigeria would continue looking abroad for boxers, wrestlers and swimmers while failing to maximise the talent available within its own communities.

Omonlei Imadu Calls for Major Reforms to Rescue Nigeria’s National Sports Festival

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