Abuja 2027: ANOCA backs Nigeria’s preparations to host African School Games

Nigeria has updated the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa (ANOCA) on preparations for the 2nd African School Games in Abuja, with organisers now focusing on delivering the event, Made In Africa Sport reports.

According to a statement issued by Kola Daniel, special adviser on media in the office of the director general of the National Sports Commission, the update was presented by the chairman of the Local Organising Committee (LOC), Lekan Abari, at ANOCA’s Extraordinary General Assembly at the Hilton Hotel in Nagoya, Japan, following an introduction by Nigeria Olympic Committee president Habu Gumel.

The meeting brought together ANOCA leadership, representatives of African National Olympic Committees and other stakeholders from the Olympic Movement, including the Caribbean Association of National Olympic Committees and Oceania National Olympic Committees, according to the statement.

Abari’s presentation covered the progress made since Nigeria was awarded the hosting rights, including the formal hosting and signing ceremony, ANOCA’s initial inspection of facilities, venue rehabilitation, competition dates and disciplines, funding and resource mobilisation, and the work of the LOC.

The statement added that Abari also outlined plans for completing venue preparations and strengthening the LOC’s organisational structures ahead of the Games.

Nigeria acknowledged that work remains to be done but told delegates that preparations are progressing and that the LOC is working with ANOCA to meet the requirements and agreed timelines.

The presentation prompted questions from delegates about the safety and security of participants, the proposed first Chef de Mission Meeting scheduled for 12 to 20 January 2027, the operation of the LOC secretariat and the availability of technical manuals, the statement said.

Abari told the Assembly that work was continuing across the different areas of preparation and that Nigeria would maintain regular engagement with ANOCA, according to the statement. It added that an official request for the technical manuals had also been submitted.

The Nigerian delegation also received positive feedback from several delegates after the presentation, with the statement saying delegates highlighted the level of detail provided on preparations for Abuja 2027.

The Abuja presentation was one of four Games updates delivered during the session. The others covered the African Beach Games Riaba 2027 in Equatorial Guinea, the African Youth Games Addis Ababa 2027 in Ethiopia and the African Games Cairo 2027 in Egypt, according to the statement.

The statement also said ANOCA reaffirmed its commitment to Abuja 2027 and pledged to release financial support for preparations in line with previous assurances. The LOC is expected to engage ANOCA on the arrangements for releasing the funds.

The Nagoya meeting comes as Nigeria moves into the next phase of preparations, with attention now shifting towards completing venue work, strengthening operations and meeting the requirements ahead of the 2027 African School Games.

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