The Executive Chairman of the Kwara State Sports Commission, Mallam Bola Mogaji, has attributed the success of the 2026 Kwara State Sports Festival, KWAFEST, to the deliberate adoption of professionalism, merit and competence in the selection of members of the Main Organising Committee (MOC) and the various Local Organising Committees.
Mogaji made this known on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, when the KWAFEST 2026 Publicity Committee, led by the Chairman of the Kwara State chapter of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), Ayodeji Ismail, presented a documentary album chronicling the activities and highlights of the Games to him at his office.
According to the Sports Commission boss, the success recorded by KWAFEST 2026 was not accidental, but the product of careful planning, commitment and the deployment of people with the requisite experience and competence.
“From the selection of personalities into the MOC and the LOC, we adopted professionalism. We looked at merit and competence because we wanted to deliver a Games that Kwara State would be proud of.”
Mogaji said he was prepared to withstand criticism and pressure in order to protect the integrity of the Games and ensure that the historic project was delivered according to the standards envisioned by the state government.
He stressed that his extensive experience in sports gave him a clear understanding of what was required to organise a successful sports festival.
“Nobody will tell me about Sports Festival. I have attended Sports Festivals more than everyone, as an athlete, as a coach, as an administrator and in other capacities. So, I understand what it takes to organise one,” he said.
The Executive Chairman noted that the decision to place professionalism above sentiments sometimes attracted criticism, but maintained that the integrity of the process remained more important than personal considerations.
He explained that KWAFEST was conceived not merely as a competition for medals, but as a platform for discovering young talents, promoting unity among the 16 Local Government Areas and creating opportunities for athletes to develop their sporting careers.
Mogaji commended the Publicity Committee for its contribution to the Games, describing the documentary album as a valuable record of the festival that would preserve its memories for posterity.
He equally extended his appreciation to all the committees and individuals who worked behind the scenes to make KWAFEST 2026 a success.
“The Publicity Committee has done well, just as all the other committees. You supported the Commission and helped us to deliver the Games successfully. This is something we must appreciate,” he said.
KWAFEST 2026 brought together young athletes and officials from across Kwara State, providing a competitive platform through which talents were identified across various sporting disciplines.
For the Sports Commission, the experience represents another step towards building a sustainable sports development pathway in Kwara, where athletes can move from grassroots competitions to higher levels of state, national and international representation.
The presentation also underscored the importance of documentation in sports administration, ensuring that the efforts and achievements of athletes and organisers are preserved beyond the conclusion of the Games.
