Sports Recorder|By Solomon OKPO
The 22nd edition of the National Sports Festival, tagged Gateway Games 2024, is set to kick off in grand style on May 18, 2025, with a high-profile opening ceremony at the Moshood Abiola International Stadium, Abeokuta, Ogun State. Among the dignitaries expected is the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communications and former Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Hon. Sunday Dare.
Dare, who played a pivotal role in securing Ogun State’s hosting rights for the festival during his tenure as Minister, will be returning in a symbolic capacity, underscoring his continued commitment to national sports development.
The two-week festival, which will run until May 31, is expected to gather over 15,000 athletes, coaches, and officials from the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory. With competitions across 32 sporting events, the festival remains Nigeria’s foremost platform for grassroots sports development, talent discovery, and national unity.
Other key figures slated to grace the event include the Executive Governor of Ogun State, His Excellency Prince Dapo Abiodun; the Minister of Youth Development, Hon. Ayodele Olawande; and representatives from the Nigeria Olympic Committee.
Notably, the leadership of the National Sports Commission, Mallam Shehu Dikko, Chairman, and Hon. Bukola Olopade, Director General and Chair of the Main Organizing Committee, will also be on ground to ensure the successful delivery of the festival.
Gateway Games 2024 promises to be a landmark edition, showcasing Ogun State’s emergence as a center of sporting excellence while promoting national cohesion, youth empowerment, and peace across the country.
