FEDUGAM 2026 Set For Fierce Contest As 15 Agencies Battle In Port Harcourt

Preparations have gathered momentum for the 6th edition of the Federal Education Sector Games (FEDUGAM) 2026, with no fewer than 15 agencies expected to compete in the week-long multi-sport competition scheduled to be held in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

The annual sporting fiesta, organised to promote unity, wellness, and stronger collaboration among agencies under the Federal Ministry of Education, will run from 17 to 23 May 2026.

Football is expected to headline the event, as organisers held the official draw ceremony in Abuja on Tuesday ahead of the competition.

Speaking during the ceremony, the Games’ consultant, Okeyinka Matthew, revealed that the 2026 edition would feature 13 sporting disciplines.

The events include football, athletics, volleyball, basketball, handball, badminton, table tennis, tennis, scrabble, chess, draughts, ayoo, and dart.

Matthew emphasised that the Games was designed to foster friendship, unity, and healthy interaction among workers within the education sector, warning against the use of ineligible athletes or mercenaries by participating agencies.

“The objective of FEDUGAM is to promote love, interaction, and unity within the ministry and its agencies,” he said.

“That objective will be defeated if any agency fields mercenaries. Such actions would amount to a serious violation, and we will not take it lightly.”

He disclosed that although only five teams officially registered for the football event, all 15 participating agencies had indicated interest in competing in the other sporting activities.

According to him, football remains the biggest attraction of the Games, which informed the decision to hold its draws before other events.

“Football is the mother of all sports globally, and that is why we are conducting the draw early,” he stated.

Mr Okeyinka commended the Honourable Minister of Education, Mr Tunji Alausa, and Mrs Nneji Nkiru Florence, the chairman of the FEDUGAM Steering Committee/MOC, for their commitment to the successful staging of the Games.

He also applauded the Rivers State governor, Siminalayi Fubara and the Rivers State government for accepting to host the Games.

Matthew further assured stakeholders that transparency would remain a key principle throughout the competition, stressing that all draws for other events would be conducted openly at the venue in the presence of athletes, officials, and members of the media.

The football fixtures unveiled at the ceremony paired the National Library against UBEC, while NECO will face the Federal Ministry of Education (FME).

Defending champions TETFund were handed a bye into the semi-finals, where they will face the best losing side from the opening round, while the remaining two winning teams will clash in the second semi-final fixture.

Organisers expressed optimism that the 2026 edition of FEDUGAM would further strengthen unity within the education sector while encouraging workers to embrace healthy lifestyles through sports and recreation.