The Kwara State Sports Commission has set up the Main Organising Committee (MOC), Local Organising Committee (LOC) and 12 sub-committees to oversee preparations for the 8th Kwara State Sports Festival.
The committees were inaugurated yesterday as arrangements gathered pace for the event, which is scheduled to take place from August 24 to 29 at the George Innih Stadium Complex in Ilorin.
Coach Bola Mogaji, the Commission’s Executive Chairman and head of the MOC, instructed the committees to commence their duties without delay and complete their assignments within the approved schedule.
He said the bodies would be responsible for organising, coordinating and delivering a peaceful, transparent and meaningful festival featuring athletes from all 16 Local Government Areas in the state.
Mogaji also asked the committees to draw up practical budgets capable of supporting the festival’s aims.
He praised Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq for his sustained funding and backing of sport, adding that authorising the eighth edition reflected the governor’s determination to advance sports in Kwara.
The sub-committees inaugurated cover Ceremonial Affairs, Publicity and Media, Technical Matters, Security, Accreditation, Accommodation, Feeding, Venues, Power and Transportation.
Dr. Steve Olarinoye, chairman of the LOC, thanked the governor for making high-quality sporting facilities available. He also expressed appreciation to Mogaji for allowing him and other stakeholders to play a role in developing sport across the state.
Mrs. Serah Bola Ẹsan, a former Director of Sports, likewise commended Governor AbdulRazaq for his contribution to sports and urged the authorities to ensure that government-provided facilities are properly maintained.
She additionally appealed for a professional approach to the administration and operations of the State Sports Commission.
The committees include commissioners, current and former permanent secretaries, serving and retired directors, as well as other sports stakeholders. Their membership also features individuals who represented Kwara at the inaugural National Sports Festival in 1973.
Events at the festival are scheduled to start at 9:00 a.m. each day.
