The organisers of the Oyo State Sports Summit 2026 have announced plans to introduce an awards segment as part of activities for the forthcoming event, aimed at recognising athletes, sporting initiatives, organisations and individuals contributing to the growth of sports in the state.
The decision followed discussions within the organising team on how best to use the Summit as a platform to identify and celebrate contributions across Oyo State’s sporting ecosystem.
Speaking on the development, Idris Animasaun, one of the driving forces behind the initiative, disclosed that he initially opposed the introduction of the awards, citing concerns about controversies often associated with award ceremonies and the financial implications of organising one outside the Summit’s original budget.
He also expressed reservations about voting systems that require nominees or their supporters to pay for votes, describing such practices as inconsistent with the principles of merit and genuine recognition.
However, he said the team’s argument that the awards could provide visibility for deserving athletes, sporting events and grassroots initiatives that often operate without adequate publicity eventually changed his position.
According to him, the initiative presents an opportunity to discover sporting programmes and competitions across the state that may otherwise remain unnoticed due to limited media exposure and publicity.
Animasaun further emphasised that the nomination process would be completely free, with no charges required to nominate individuals or initiatives across the various categories.
He maintained that the objective is to identify and celebrate genuine contributions to sports development rather than create a platform where financial capacity determines recognition.
The organisers have consequently opened nominations across all award categories, encouraging members of the sporting community and the general public to participate.
The Oyo State Sports Summit 2026, themed “Beyond the Podium: People. Performance. Progress. Legacy,” is scheduled to hold on Wednesday, December 2, 2026, at Mauve21, Ring Road, Ibadan.
The Summit will bring together athletes, sports administrators, policymakers, corporate organisations, media practitioners and other stakeholders to deliberate on key issues affecting sports development in the state, including athlete welfare, grassroots development, sporting infrastructure, access to facilities and financing the sports economy.
The awards segment is expected to complement these conversations by providing a platform to recognise the people and initiatives whose contributions continue to shape the state’s sporting landscape.
