With just six days remaining, excitement continues to build across Nigeria as Ogun State prepares to host the 22nd National Sports Festival, also known as the Gateway Games 2024. Scheduled to take place from May 16th to 31st, this year’s edition is more than a sporting competition—it is a national celebration of unity, culture, and development.

The festival will feature 33 sports, drawing participation from all 36 states of the federation, the FCT, and invited junior athletes, with over 10,000 athletes expected to compete. It promises to be one of the largest gatherings of sports talent in the history of the event.

*A Cultural Showcase Like No Other*

Ogun State, deeply rooted in heritage and tradition, is set to offer a powerful display of Nigerian culture. From vibrant performances during the opening and closing ceremonies to daily exhibitions of art, dance, and indigenous craftsmanship, the festival will celebrate the diversity that defines the nation. Visitors and participants alike will have the opportunity to engage with local customs and cultural expressions from all regions of Nigeria.

*An Economic Catalyst for Ogun State*

The festival is already stimulating economic activity across the state. Thousands of athletes, officials, and spectators will inject new energy into Ogun’s economy, benefiting local businesses, hospitality providers, transportation services, and informal traders. From hotels to markets, the influx of guests is expected to significantly boost revenue and promote tourism in the host communities.

*A Premium Spectator Experience*

Spectators can look forward to a thoughtfully curated experience. Fan engagement zones, live entertainment, digital information displays, and enhanced security measures will ensure a safe, interactive, and memorable environment for everyone attending. Family-friendly spaces and local culinary showcases will further enrich the experience for both local residents and visitors.

*Legacy-Driven Infrastructure Improvements*

Ogun State has made strategic investments in infrastructure, with significant upgrades to key venues including the M.K.O. Abiola International Stadium and the Alake Sports Centre. For the first time in the history of the National Sports Festival, all contingents will be accommodated in a dedicated Games Village, fostering greater collaboration, unity, and logistical efficiency. These developments are set to leave a lasting legacy for future sporting events and community use.

Adding to the momentum is the recent appointment of 1980 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) winner, Chief Segun Odegbami, as the Grand Sports Ambassador of Ogun State. A legendary figure in Nigerian sports, Chief Odegbami’s legacy, leadership, and advocacy for youth development reflect the values the festival aims to promote.

With only six days to go, the 22nd National Sports Festival promises to be a landmark event for Nigerian sports, culture, and national development.

The Director General of the National Sports Commission, NSC, Hon Bukola Olopade, has charged the Country’s Invited Junior Athletes ( IJA), contingents to see their participation at the forthcoming 22nd National Sports Festival in Ogun State as a bold step towards their Sporting Greatness.

The DG gave the charge when he visited the Athletes in their training camp in Abuja on Wednesday, where he held an exciting interactive discussion with them to boost their morals ahead of the Games.

Nigeria Sports is currently receiving a breath of fresh air with the IJA concept where the very best of the Country’s young athletes across multiple Sports have been selected to feature as the 38th State at the Sports Festival.

The NSC DG reminded the athletes that they are the future of the country’s Sports and that is why Mr President, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, backed the Commission to create the IJA concept into the Sports festival, starting with the Gateway Games.

” This is the first time Nigeria is having this sort of arrangement. That means for those of you who finally makes it to Abeokuta, your names would have been written in the history book forever. So work very hard to qualify to go to Abeokuta”.

” We created the Invited Junior Athletes concept because we believe in the talents of young people that are bound in this country. If you have gone to the Youth Games and you are champion, let us then see how you grow into the elite cadre. And the only way you can grow into that cadre is by competing and beating the Elite Athletes”.

“I want to assure you all that if you win 10 Gold medals at the Festival in Ogun State, you have a big gift from the chairman, Mallam Shehu Dikkko”.

” Once again I have come to say thank you for your service to the nation, thank you for loving what you know how to do best and above all to charge you that this thing that you have started, May God lead and guide you all to greater heights”.

The IJA will compete in about nine Sports at the Gateway Games which including ; Athletics, Badminton, Football, Para Athletics, Swimming, Table tennis, tennis, Wrestling and weightlifting.

The Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Mallam Shehu Dikko, has called on sports officers and professionals under the National Sports Federations to fully align with the Commission’s renewed vision aimed at repositioning Nigeria’s sports sector in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

Mallam Dikko made this known while declaring open a two-day capacity-building workshop for sports officers with the theme: “Reset, Refocus, and Relaunch the Nigerian Sports Sector for Greater Performance.”

He emphasized the importance of collective responsibility and commitment in achieving the Commission’s RHINSE vision, a key policy initiative focused on sustainable sports development.

> “You are the fundamental key drivers of this vision. If you fail to align, the task becomes much more difficult,” he said. “You are among the most competent, forward-thinking, and valuable assets within the Commission. If we work together, success is guaranteed.”

The Chairman reiterated the importance of returning to grassroots sports development as a foundation for international success. He cited the Federal Executive Council’s recent approval of the “Nigeria First” policy, which emphasizes the development of internal capacity and local services.

> “For the first time, the Commission has a targeted budget focused on delivering the right infrastructure to enable you to perform better,” Dikko stated. “We are working on the concessioning of facilities in Lagos, Kaduna, Ibadan, and Bauchi to ensure they are fully optimized.”

Dikko also commended the Secretaries-General for their efforts but urged them to push their respective federations to be more responsive and results-driven.

> “We must change the negative narrative about the Commission. We aim to create three to four million jobs through sports. E-sports alone has over three million active players in Nigeria,” he noted. “In 2024, between $200 to $300 was earned by some Nigerians from E-sports. This shows potential we must tap into.”

He added that President Tinubu is particularly interested in developing local teams and creating domestic competitions that will deliver results and economic opportunities.

Earlier, the Director General of the NSC, Hon. Bukola Olopade, urged the sports officers to adopt a proactive approach and work as a unified team to achieve greater results.

> “As stakeholders of this Commission, you must be bold, proactive, and never allow yourselves to be intimidated. The Commission is fully behind you,” Olopade assured.

In his remarks, President of the Nigerian Olympic Committee (NOC), Engr. Habu Gumel, commended the organizers of the workshop and encouraged the officers to work collaboratively with their federation presidents to move the federations forward.

The Director of Federation and Elite Athletes Department (FEAD), Mr. Olumide Bamiduro, said the workshop was designed to recognize and empower the officers, who are the key drivers of the sector.

> “Your diligence and hard work are crucial for the progress of sports in Nigeria. I encourage you to take full advantage of this retreat to implement the Commission’s new policies and vision,” he said.

Also speaking, the Honourable Commissioner, Federal Civil Service Commission (FCSC), Hon  Gboyega Oyebade, emphasized the need for officers to develop and track their Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), in line with the operational Performance Management System (PMS) in all Ministries, Departments, and Agencies.

> “The PMS is designed to make the Commission more accountable, results-oriented, and focused on measurable targets,” he concluded.