The Kwara State Sports Commission has inaugurated the Main Organising Committee (MOC), Local Organising Committee (LOC) and 12 sub-committees ahead of the 8th Kwara State Sports Festival.

The committees are responsible for planning, coordinating and ensuring the successful hosting of the state's flagship sporting event, which will bring together athletes from all 16 local government areas.

Performing the inauguration, the Executive Chairman of the Commission and Chairman of the MOC, Bola Mogaji, charged members to commence work immediately and operate within the stipulated timeframe.

He urged the committees to prepare realistic budgets and ensure that all arrangements were geared towards delivering a peaceful, transparent and impactful festival.

Mogaji commended Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq for his continued investment in sports development, saying the approval for the 8th edition reflected the governor's commitment to promoting sports in the state.

The 12 sub-committees inaugurated include Ceremonial, Publicity and Media, Technical, Security, Accreditation, Accommodation, Feeding, Venues, Power and Transportation, among others.

Speaking at the event, the Chairman of the LOC, Dr Steve Olarinoye, appreciated Governor AbdulRazaq for providing sports facilities across the state and Mogaji for giving him and other stakeholders the opportunity to contribute to the development of sports in Kwara.

Former Director of Sports, Mrs Serah Bola ?san, also praised the governor's commitment to sports development in Kwara and Nigeria.

Esan, who is the only female Director of Sports in the state, called for proper maintenance of the facilities provided by the government and urged the Sports Commission to uphold professionalism in its operations.

The committees comprise senior administrators and other stakeholders, including serving and former permanent secretaries, former and serving directors, as well as individuals who represented Kwara at the inaugural National Sports Festival in 1973.

The 8th Kwara State Sports Festival is scheduled to take place from August 21 to 29, 2026, at the George Agbazika Innih Stadium Complex, Ilorin, with activities beginning daily at 9:00 a.m.