By James Sani
The maiden edition of the Governor Ododo All-Campus Games has commenced amid pomp, pageantry and excitement at the Sports Complex of the Federal University Lokoja (FUL), Adankolo Campus, with Kogi State Polytechnic defeating the host institution 1–0 in the opening football fixture.
The opening ceremony, held on Monday, October 26, 2026, attracted top government functionaries, representatives of participating institutions, sports administrators and students, marking a significant step towards promoting sports development, youth empowerment and healthy competition among tertiary institutions in Kogi State.
Representing Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo, the Secretary to the State Government, Dr Mrs Folashade Arike Ayoade, described sports as a strategic instrument for talent discovery, economic empowerment, poverty reduction and youth development.
She conveyed the Governor’s message to students from the 13 participating tertiary institutions, urging them to maximise the opportunities provided by the competition to promote unity, exchange ideas and build enduring relationships that would contribute to the development of the state.
Governor Ododo also commended the Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Honourable Aridaojo Monday Anyebe, for his commitment to advancing sports in the state, urging him to sustain efforts towards creating opportunities for young people to excel.
In his welcome address, Anyebe described the games as a platform for promoting sporting excellence, discipline, teamwork and collaboration among students, expressing optimism that the initiative would strengthen inter-institutional relationships and facilitate the discovery of promising athletes.
Dignitaries at the ceremony included the Head of Service, Hajiya Falilat Yusuf Musa, Esq.; Commissioner for Water Resources, Engineer Yahaya Faruk; the Commissioner for Housing and Urban Planning; Special Adviser on Women and Youth, Honourable Charity Ijese; the Special Adviser on Electronic Media; and Permanent Secretaries from the Office of the Head of Service and the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, among other senior government officials.
On the field, Kogi State Polytechnic secured a hard-fought 1–0 victory over Federal University Lokoja, with goalkeeper Michael Idowu delivering an impressive performance, making several crucial saves to preserve his team’s advantage and secure all three points. The host institution will seek to recover when it faces the Nigeria-Korea Friendship Institute in its next match.
Competition across the other zones is scheduled to continue on Tuesday, October 27, while the grand finale is slated for November 7, 2026.
Beyond the competition for medals and honours, the Governor Ododo All-Campus Games is expected to provide a platform for discovering emerging sporting talents, strengthening friendship among students and positioning sports as a catalyst for youth empowerment and sustainable development in Kogi State.
James Sani
Information Officer
Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, Lokoja, Kogi State.
