Finally as I write this piece, more than 10,000 athletes and officials from all over Nigeria, our great country, who are competing for laurels in the 22nd National Sports Festival tagged Gateway Games, are converging in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital in anticipation of a memorable festival as assured by the Chief host himself, Governor Dapo Abiodun.
While many of those who have arrived are enthusiastically admitting that the city is abuzz and wearing many new looks already, the official opening ceremony of the Gateway Games 2024 has been slated for Sunday, May 18, 2025.
The state government, under the leadership of Governor Abiodun, while receiving the Torch of Unity on Thursday, assured that all necessary logistics have been put in place for the reception of the contingents from participating states. And the Local Organising Committee (LOC) of the competition attests to this assurance.
Of course, hundreds of domestic and foreign journalists, sports enthusiasts, and other related professionals are expected in the state to be part of the much-awaited 22nd National Sports Festival. The Dapo Abiodun-led administration has gone many extra miles to ensure that the memories of the competition would linger in the minds of the participants as well as the good people of the state.
For the records, this would be the second national sports festival to be hosted by Ogun State, the first being in 2006. And all hands, including those of the governor, his entire cabinet, and all his aides, have been on deck to deliver the best-organised sports competition ever in the country. Believe me, Governor Abiodun is walking this talk with seriousness and precision.
Governor Abiodun had on several occasions noted that the National Sports Festival brings together the energy and creativity of youths in the country and also serves as a platform for them to showcase their diverse talents and potential. He added that hosting the festival is a testament to the commitment of his administration to empower the next generation by offering them the opportunity for growth and self-development.
It is also worth adding that youths from Ogun State have earned domestic and international acclaim for themselves and the nation through sports events like athletics, boxing, chess, football, to mention a few.
The contributions of the legendary Segun Odegbami, quartermiller Falilat Ogunkoya, maverick Anthony Joshua, youthful Tobi Amusan, Tunde Onakoya, the Chess champion, among others, toward lifting Nigeria’s image in the international fora through sports, serve as a tonic for the organisers of this festival.
So, the good people of Ogun State happily welcome all participants to this wonderful sporting convergence. While the main hub for competitions is the newly rehabilitated and immensely upgraded M.K.O. Abiola International Stadium, which has now been turned into a world-class Sporting Complex by the Dapo Abiodun administration, some events will take place at the Alake Sports Complex and other venues.
The Babcock University at Ilishan Remo is the Games Village where all the athletes will be accommodated together in love and unity. A robust transport arrangement is in place to ensure itch-free movement of people to and from the games village through the festival. Arrangements are also in place to cater to the socioeconomic conveniences of participants.
Importantly, Governor Abiodun and all other organizers and stakeholders have been advocating for the true spirit of sportsmanship to be displayed all through the festival, even as we all look forward to celebrating winners and losers alike, for the true essence of the entire festival and the many competitions is actually in the participation.
For the governor, there is more joy in hosting Nigerian youths to a sports festival than winning, as he strongly believes that the role sports activities play in the well-being of the youths cannot be overemphasized. “For us in Ogun State, this festival isn’t just about the competition and performances, even though we would love to host and win every medal,” the governor had declared.
“We want to host a National Sports Festival that will showcase the talent, our culture and potential of our great state as well as a very unique sense of hospitality of our people,” he added while enjoining the people of the state to be part of the activities to display their usual hospitality to the visitors.
There’s no doubt that since over 16,000 people, including over 12,000 athletes and 4,000 officials, domestic and foreign journalists, would throng the Rivers State capital for the two-week event, the hospitality industry would surely face some challenges in terms of catering to their needs.
We are, however, confident that plans have been firmed up by players in the hospitality industry to make the athletes’ stay one of the most eventful in their careers.
Indeed, we do not want to lose cognizance of the fact that a major aspect of the success story of this festival would depend on adequate security arrangements put in place by the stakeholders for the protection of all and sundry. While we underline the return of peace and tranquility to the Garden City, The Tide insists that the security agencies put all it takes in place to ensure there are no untoward events during the competition.
This event, we are convinced, should be an opportunity for the security agencies to advertise their prowess in security matters, given recent happenings across the country, including the recent killing of policemen in the state by some gunmen.
No doubt, given the level of preparedness and the satisfactory looks on the faces of the contingents that are already in town, as Governor Abiodun and the good people of Ogun State welcome the athletes, officials and other visitors to the festival, they are proud, indeed, to say, let the games begin, and let the best win.
Dare Odufowokan is the Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to Governor Dapo Abiodun on Public Communications