FCT ATHLETES TO BE HONOURED AFTER STRONG NATIONAL PERFORMANCES
By: Gyang Dakwo
The Federal Capital Territory Administration is set to reward athletes who recorded outstanding results at two major national competitions. The awards will go to young athletes who shone at the 2025 National Youth Games and to the senior team that achieved a rare single-digit finish at the 2024 National Sports Festival.
The plan was announced during an FCT Sports Department stakeholders meeting where the FCT Director of Sports, Luka Istifanus met with coaches, sports officials and management staff of the department.
The Director reviewed the medal haul from the National Youth Games and said the athletes deserved recognition because they performed with courage and skill. This he said was made possible through the support ad encouragement from the Barr Nyesom Wike-led FCT administration.
He stressed that the heart of sports lies in unity and fair play. He said this spirit grows each time athletes, officials and supporters gather, no matter how many sports are included in a competition.
He pointed out that the FCT team also broke a long standing record at the 2024 National Sports Festival, known as the Gateway Games. The team finished in single digits on the medals table, and this was a first, making it major improvement from earlier outings outside Abuja. The only other time the FCT has finished in the top 10 was at the 19th edition which Abuja hosted in 2018.
Istifanus also briefed on the decisions taken at the recent National Council of Sports meeting in Calabar. He stressed that officials must obey the new rules issued in the communique at the Calabar meeting.
One of the major rules is strict compliance with age limits for athletes, and the warning states that sanctions will apply to any athlete or official who ignores the rule.
He added that the National Sports Commission will require every state to provide a central insurance package for athletes, officials and host state facilities during national competitions.
Another key point from the communique is the plan to reduce the number of sports in national events in order to make organisation easier. That means sports not featured in an edition will return in the next one – they will be rotated. Istifanus noted that this approach will save costs for host states.
For next year’s calendar, the director disclosed that Abuja will host the third edition of the Para Sports Games in March 2026. Enugu will host the next National Sports Festival in 2026, while Bayelsa will take its turn in 2028 and Kaduna will host in 2030.
