Vice President Kashim Shettima has officially declared the 22nd National Sports Festival open on behalf of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. The ceremony took place at the MKO Abiola Stadium in Abeokuta, Ogun State, marking the start of Nigeria’s premier multi-sport event, known as the “Gateway Games Ogun 2024.”
In his address, Vice President Shettima conveyed President Tinubu’s message emphasizing that sports remain one of the most powerful forces for national cohesion and unity. The festival will feature over 10,000 athletes representing all 36 states, the Federal Capital Territory, and a special team of invited junior athletes.
The opening ceremony was attended by a host of dignitaries, including former President Olusegun Obasanjo; Ogun State Governor Prince Dapo Abiodun; Governors Ademola Adeleke (Osun), Ahmed Usman Ododo (Kogi), Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa (Ondo), Chukwuma Charles Soludo (Anambra), and Mai Mala Buni (Yobe); former Ogun State Governor Chief Olusegun Osoba; and Nobel laureate Professor Wole Soyinka, among others.
The National Sports Festival serves as a significant platform for nurturing sporting talent and fostering unity across Nigeria’s diverse regions. The “Gateway Games Ogun 2024” promises to be a vibrant showcase of athletic excellence and national pride.
