Kogi State Government, has hosted the contingents to the maiden edition of the Governor Ododo All Campus Games 2026 as well as announced cash reward for the medalists.
In the cash reward, the gold medalist in team events like football received a sum of N1.5m (one million, five hundred thousand naira), winners of basketball or other related team events carted home N700,000(seven hundred thousand naira), while those in the 4x100m relays received N400,000 (four hundred thousand naira).
There were other cash rewards of two hundred thousand naira for winners in individual events such as the 100m,400m amongst others.
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Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Hon. Aridaojo Anyebe, while presenting cheques to student athletes, who distinguished themselves at the games during a reception held in Lokoja, said the cash reward was in appreciation of their excellent performance at the sporting event.
He acknowledged the sacrifices behind the medals and trophies, and praised the athletes, their officials, tertiary institutions, Local Organizing Committee (LOC), media amongst others for ensuring a hitch free games.
Hon Anyebe used the forum to applaude the Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo led administration, for providing the much needed funding as well as reinforcing the belief that supporting talent, hard work and youth development were worthy investments.
He then reiterated government’s determination to give the Confluence stadium a facelift to ensure the next games and other similar competitions are hosted within the facility in the nearest future.
Beyond the financial incentives, Hon Anyebe assured the young athletes of the administration’s commitment towards ensuring the few talents discovered at the games are invited to camp for trials and grooming for future events.
He also said plans were on by the ministry to partner scouts that would help identify and nurture promising athletes.
Earlier in his remarks, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mr. Momoh Azeez, said the Gov.Ododo All Campus Games, marked an important milestone in sports development in Kogi State, noting that the competition brought together students from 12 territory institutions from across the state.
“The games provided our students with an opportunity to discover their talents, grow confidence, develop leadership qualities and appreciate the values of teamwork, perseverance and discipline” he also added.
He used the forum to applaude Governor Ododo for providing all the requirements and support that made the games a success while acknowledging the governor’s sustained investment in developing young people in the state.
Mr Azeez equally commended the Sports Commissioner for his leadership, dedication and commitment towards transmitting the vision of the governor into tangible programmes and activities within the ministry.
“Our mission in the ministry is to sustain the games as a permanent feature on Kogi State sporting calendar as a platform for discovering and nurturing talents capable of taking the state to greater heights” he further added.
Contributing, the LOC chairman, Mr Michael Joshua, observed that the maiden edition has demonstrated to the sporting world that Kogi State is blessed with enormous talents across it’s tertiary institutions.
He equally announced plans to extend invitation to private schools in order to accommodate more institutions.
Overall, 12 state and federal government owned territory institutions, participated in the 2026 edition of the games that saw athletes locking horns for glory in various sporting events including: Football, basketball, volleyball and athletics.
