MOC, LOC hold strategic meeting towards Enugu 2026

The Delta State government, yesterday, splashed N1 million on each of its gold medal winners at the 2025 Gateway Games held in Abeokuta. The gesture, it said, is to motivate Team Delta to strive for more wins at next year’s National Sports Festival slated for Enugu State.

Governor Sheriff Oborevwori’s cash largesse to Delta athletes and officials came just as the Main Organising Committee (MOC) and Local Organising Committee (LOC) for the Enugu 2026 Coal City Games held a strategic meeting, via Zoom, to advance preparations for the Games.

Team Delta retained its title at the Gateway Games in Abeokuta, reaffirming its dominance in Nigerian sports with a commanding 332 medals made up of 126 gold, 100 silver and 111 bronze medals. Host, Ogun, was second on the table, while Team Bayelsa finished third.

Governor Oborevwori said yesterday’s largesse was in fulfillment of his pledge to reward excellence.

Apart from the gold medallists, the governor gave N500,000 for every silver medal and N250,000 for every bronze medal won at the festival.

One of the athletes, Clinton Opute, a swimmer, won six individual gold medals at the Gateway Games, a feat that earned him N6 million from the state government.

The state also gave cash incentives to officials who contributed to Team Delta’s historic success at the Gateway Games.

He commended the athletes and officials for bringing pride to the state, stressing that their victory in Abeokuta further cemented Delta’s position as Nigeria’s undisputed sporting powerhouse.

Reacting to the state’s gesture, Chairman of the Delta Sports Commission, Onoriode Oborevwori, promised that the team would do everything possible to maintain its record-breaking dominance in next year’s National Sports Festival in Enugu.

Meanwhile, at the MOC/LOC Zoom meeting chaired by the chairmen of both committees, Bukola Olopade and Llyod Ekweremadu, respectively, members focused on key deliberations regarding facilities for the Enugu 2026 Games.

Members received updates on the ongoing works and steady progress across designated sites.

As part of the resolutions, the committees agreed in October 2025 for the next official visit to Enugu to further assess the state’s readiness and provide guidance as preparations advance.