President Bola Tinubu has officially declared open the 22nd edition of the National Sports Festival (NSF), tagged Gateway Games 2024, calling on athletes to compete with honour and integrity in the spirit of true sportsmanship.
Represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, Tinubu performed the ceremonial opening on Sunday at the MKO Abiola International Stadium in Kuto, Abeokuta, Ogun State. The biennial sporting event, which is expected to feature over 10,000 athletes from across the country, will run from May 16 to 30, 2025.
Dignitaries at the colourful opening ceremony included former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Nobel Laureate Prof. Wole Soyinka, Governors Charles Soludo (Anambra), Ademola Adeleke (Osun), and Abiodun Oyebanji (Ekiti), as well as Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun, among other political figures, sports legends and enthusiasts.
In his address, President Tinubu described sports as a unifying force and a critical driver of national cohesion, health, and development.
“Indeed, nothing unites Nigeria like sports,” he said. “On the pitch, in the court, or on the track, we’re reminded that we are not strangers to one another but compatriots, drawn from different roots, yet drinking from the same well of national pride.”
Tinubu emphasized his administration’s commitment to elevating sports through the establishment of a fully autonomous and innovative National Sports Commission, free from political interference and vested interests.
“We want sports administration to thrive independently. That’s why we’ve reorganised the sector—because we see sports as a way of life and a pathway to a stronger, more united Nigeria,” he added.
Governor Dapo Abiodun described the festival as a milestone achievement for Ogun State, calling the opening ceremony “world-class and Ogun-standard.”
“This festival reflects our commitment to national unity and development through sports,” he said.
Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Mallam Shehu Dikko, praised Ogun State for hosting the games and lauded President Tinubu’s visionary leadership in reforming the sports sector.
“The transformation of the Federal Ministry of Sports into a National Sports Commission is a bold move that lays the foundation for sustainable growth and professionalisation of the sporting industry,” Dikko said.
He also announced the debut of the Invited Junior Athletes (IJA) category, with over 200 young talents participating, aligning with the Tinubu administration’s youth-focused agenda.
Director-General of the NSC, Bukola Olopade, expressed confidence that Gateway Games 2024 will go down in history as Nigeria’s best sports festival yet.
“This is an emotional moment for me. Nineteen years ago, I stood on this track as a sports commissioner in Ogun. Today, we’re hosting what promises to be the most impactful festival in our country’s sporting history,” Olopade said.
He also commended Governor Abiodun for his unwavering support and commitment to making the festival a resounding success, noting that the event will unearth future champions whose talents will be nurtured to excellence.
The Gateway Games 2024 is more than a competition, it is a celebration of national pride, unity in diversity, and the immense potential of Nigerian youth through sport.
