Former Nigeria 400m hurdler, United States-based, Victor Okorie, has promised not to disappoint Enugu State Governor, Dr Peter Mba for his inclusion in the 12-man Local Organising Committee (LOC) for next year’s 23rd National Sports Festival, tagged Enugu 2026.

  Okorie, a Performance Director on the current board of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) assured the Governor of his total commitment for Enugu 2026 Games, just as he promised that he and other members of the LOC will deliver a hugely successful Festival. 

Okorie is one of notable track and field stars included in the 12-man LOC released on Tuesday. Others include former African Queen of the Track, Mary Onyali and another AFN board member (representative of the Athletes Commission), Dr Henry Okorie.

  Enugu 2026 will be the second time the National Sports Festival will hold in the Southeast region in history of the Games after Imo State hosted the 1998 edition.

  Victor Okorie came into limelight at Imo ’98, where he won gold medal in the 400m hurdles. 

Two years later at Bauchi 2000, he created a record by winning the title, thus emerging as one of the few athletes to have won the 400m gold back-to-back in the history of the Games. 

Okorie later grabbed a silver medal in the 400m hurdles for Nigeria at COJA 2003 All Africa Games in Abuja, and also represented Nigeria at Paris 2003 World Athletics Championships. 

Okorie led Nigeria’s delegation to the 2022 World Athletics Championships in Eugene, Oregon, USA, where the duo of Tobi Amusan and Ese Brume won gold and silver medal respectively.

  Speaking from his base in the United States yesterday, Okorie said: “First, I must appreciate Governor Mba for considering me among those to serve in the LOC. I am really grateful. I also thank the Commissioner for Sports for believing in me. I have said it before that the choice of Enugu for the 2026 edition was perfect.

  “I was born and brought up in Enugu and I started my athletics career in the city. I know more about the sports culture of the people. The city has been starved of a major sporting event for so long, and I am happy the National Sports Commission (NSC) picked Enugu for the 23rd edition. I am optimistic that the government and people of Enugu will deliver one of the best ever National Sports Festival in 2026,” Okorie concluded.