The 23rd edition of the National Sports Festival (NSF), slated for Enugu State in 2026, has gained significant momentum following strategic sponsorship commitments from PremiumTrust Bank and BetKing. The two corporate giants have pledged support for what is being projected as the most impactful edition in the history of the biennial Games.
The sponsorship deals were finalized after a high-level meeting in Enugu that brought together key stakeholders, including the Director General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Hon. Bukola Olopade; Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State; PremiumTrust Bank Managing Director, Emmanuel Efe Emefienim, CON; and BetKing Managing Director, Gossy Ukanwoke.
Discussions at the meeting focused on the critical elements needed for a successful Games, including infrastructure development, logistics, youth engagement, legacy programming, and the role of the private sector in advancing sports in Nigeria.
PremiumTrust Bank, which served as the headline sponsor for the Gateway Games Ogun 2024, has again taken the lead as headline sponsor for Enugu 2026, reaffirming its commitment to sports development at both grassroots and elite levels. BetKing, a major player in Nigeria’s sports entertainment industry, also joined as a key sponsor, signaling a strong vote of confidence in the NSC’s vision and the economic potential of Nigerian sports.
NSC Director General Bukola Olopade praised the sponsors for their commitment, linking their involvement to the dynamic leadership of Governor Peter Mbah and the federal government’s renewed focus on sports as a strategic tool for national development.
“The confidence shown by PremiumTrust Bank and BetKing is not accidental,” Olopade stated. “It’s a direct reflection of Governor Mbah’s transformative agenda and President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope initiative, which places sports at the core of national development.”
He described the event as a defining moment for Nigerian sports, highlighting the shift in perception from sports as mere entertainment to sports as a driver of economic growth, job creation, and social cohesion.
