▪︎ The Convener of Asun Carnival 2026, Tourism Icon, Otunba Olawanle Akinboboye commends female winner of The First Ever World Kolokun (goat chasing competition).

The First Ever World Kolokun (goat chasing competition), made its debut on May 2nd, 2026 in the heart of Ondo State, Nigeria at the Ondo State Sports Stadium.The event was one of the major features of the annual Asun Carnival which takes place in Ondo State.

Founded by Tourism Icon and visionary, Otunba Dr. Chief Olawanle Akinboboye, Kolokun (the goat chasing competition) is a sports created to engage and empower youths in the world, while at the same time promoting keen competition among youths and serving as great entertainment for the entire community, where it is hosted.

▪︎ The Convener of First Ever World Kolokun (goat chasing competition) Tourism Icon, Otunba Dr. Chief Olawanle Akinboboye
Speaking at a world press conference before the event at the Ondo Sports Stadium, the visionary behind this grand event, Otunba Olawanle Akinboboye, said that, goats are not only for consumption but can also serve as a source of entertainment, an idea brought to life through the Kolokun goat competition.

According to him, the Kolokun goat chasing competition holds a strong significance in Asun carnival that takes place every year in Ondo City because, Asun is made from goat meat, a special delicacy that is uniquely known to have originated from the Ondo people of Southwest Nigeria. Asun is smoked goat meat, which in modern times, is now smoked on a barbecue grill, stirred in spicy pepper sauce.

This year’s Kolokun (goat chasing competition) was witnessed by over 40,000 people, who were at the stadium. As a sport for entertainment, after the competitors have been identified through a registration process, they stay on a straight line by the edge of the pitch while some metres ahead of them, a goat is released. And the chase begins in earnest.

The goat, runs like wildfire, but pauses every now and then to access its pursuers, who races after it with the intensity of a driven engine. At this point, the crowd cheers in wild excitement and the goat dribbles, going on bends and turns. But because it’s a competition, a fierce one at that point, with persistent determined youth, a winner sooner emerges for the male and female segment.

“The reward is enticing,” said Otunba Akinboboye. The victory of catching the prized goat worth a whooping N150,000 was best seen in the strides of the young male and female winners as they hung their goats, on the back of their necks, on the way to present it to the special guests at the event, for their reward and blessings.

▪︎ Segments of the crowd at the stadium
Economically, N150,000 will certainly make an impression on the young female winner of the Kolokun competition. Probably, for the paying of school fees, or the quick-start of a side business, or little side-trading that could grow into a sustainable business and so on. All these thoughts trended in her mind as she definitely seemed deeply in thought as the goat hung at the back of her neck.

The winners were: Akinnifesi Temidayo, who won a goat in the Male category, and Precious Ngozi, who won a goat in the Female category. The the children category was nullified.Education

Otunba Akinboboye foresees a bigger Kolokun (goat chasing competition) next year during the Asun Carnival.

“The prized reward maybe bigger next year,” said Akinboboye. “The use of goats for the Kolokun is strategic. It will steer up commercial interest in goat rearing in the state. We used just ten goats this year but next year, we will be using twenty goats for Asun Carnival and the Kolokun competition. We will also create opportunities for vendors at the stadium to sell Asun meat to the over 100,000 people that are envisaged to come to witness next year’s event. There will also be food vendors outside the stadium to cater to people. We will urge and encourage hotel owners to spice up their hotels in preparation for next year’s event. They have the months ahead to prepare for this.”

He recalled that, The Running of the Bulls (encierro) in Spain is now a world-famous, free competition held during the San Fermín Festival from July 7–14. The Kolokun (goat chasing competition) in Ondo, will certainly be a bigger event comparable to The Running of the Bulls soonest,” Otunba Akinboboye added.