The 22nd National Sports Festival, dubbed the Gateway Games 2024, will close today (Thursday) at the MKO Sports Arena in Abeokuta, capping 11 days of exhilarating competition that showcased Nigeria’s finest and emerging athletic talents. Organizers hailed the event as one of the best-ever National Sports Festivals, with a vibrant closing ceremony promised to match the grandeur of the opening.
The festival, hosted across Ogun State, transformed venues like the Alake Sports Centre in Ijeja, Baptist Boys High School, Obafemi Awolowo Square, Remo Stadium in Ikenne, NYSC Orientation Camp in Shagamu, and Ilisan Town Hall into hubs of sporting fervor.
The state’s world-class facilities and enthusiastic crowds cemented Ogun’s reputation as a sporting powerhouse. A historic highlight was the men’s football final, where Ogun State defeated Kwara State 4-1 before a packed MKO Stadium, with thousands more watching on a big screen outside, underscoring sports as a unifying force in Nigeria.
The Games lived up to their pre-tournament hype, with the National Sports Commission (NSC) and Ogun State Government ensuring a seamless experience for athletes, officials, and media. New records were set, old ones shattered, and the debut of the Invited Junior Athletes (IJA), the 38th contingent, stunned spectators by clinching unexpected medals, validating the NSC’s initiative to nurture young talent.
NSC Chairman Mallam Shehu Dilko expressed gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his unwavering support and to Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun, whose contributions were pivotal to the festival’s success. “Posterity will surely remember him for good,” Dilko said. NSC Director General and Main Organizing Committee Chairman Hon Bukola Olopade also praised the behind-the-scenes technocrats, sub-committees, technical officials, media, and athletes for their roles in the triumph. While acknowledging minor challenges, Olopade assured that improvements are underway for the 23rd edition in Enugu State in September 2026.
The closing ceremony will be attended by top government officials and industry leaders will feature a vibrant display of Ogun’s rich cultural heritage and the official handover of the hosting baton to Enugu State.