The MKO Abiola Sports Complex in Abeokuta in Ogun state erupted in celebration on Thursday evening as the 22nd edition of Nigeria’s National Sports Festival, dubbed the Gateway Games 2024, reached its spectacular conclusion.
The two-week sporting extravaganza brought together over 11,000 athletes from across Nigeria’s 36 states, the Federal Capital Territory, and Invited Junior Athletes, IJA.
At the end of the competition across more than 32 events, Delta State reaffirmed its status as Nigeria’s undisputed sporting powerhouse, securing an unprecedented fifth consecutive National Sports Festival title.
Delta amassed a staggering 126 gold medals, 100 silver, and 111 bronze for a total haul of 337 medals.
The host state, Ogun, came in second with 93 medals while Bayelsa State amasses 92 medals emerging 3rd on the medal table.
While the top three states basked in glory, the medal table revealed concerning disparities in Nigeria’s sporting development landscape.
Seven states – Benue, Yobe, Jigawa, Taraba, Adamawa, Sokoto and Kogi – failed to secure a single gold medal throughout the competition. Benue State emerged as the strongest performer among these, collecting six silver and twelve bronze medals, suggesting potential that could be unlocked with better training infrastructure and coaching support.
At the opposite end of the spectrum, Kebbi and Zamfara States managed only bronze medals each, highlighting the urgent need for targeted sports development initiatives in these regions.
The closing ceremony transformed into a triple celebration as it coincided with the 65th birthday of Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun and his sixth year in office as governor.
The evening commenced with a rendition of the national anthem by award-winning songstress Aituaje Aina Vivian Ebele Iruobe aka Waje. She followed this with a special performance of the festival’s theme song, setting the tone for an unforgettable night of entertainment.
Her performance was quickly followed with that of Fuji music icon King Wasiu Ayinde, popularly known as K1 De Ultimate. The legendary performer delivered a commanding display for almost an hour for an audience set with dignitaries and athletes dancing in the aisles.
Not to be outdone, contemporary Afrobeat star, Oluwatobi Wande Ojosipe aka Wande Coal kept the energy at a fever pitch with back-to-back hits that bridged generational divides among the spectators.
The ceremony attracted Nigeria’s political crème de la crème, led by Senate President Godswill Akpabio who represented President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
In his address, President Tinubu praised Ogun State’s organisational prowess while acknowledging the challenges inherent in hosting an event of this magnitude. The President described sports as a driver of economic activities, saying the sports festival has promoted the spirit of togetherness irrespective of tribe, ethnicity, language, and religious differences.
Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri led a contingent of fellow governors and deputy governors who added political weight to the occasion.
The presence of National Sports Commission Chairman Shehu Dikko and Nigeria Olympic Committee President Habu Gumel underscored the importance of the festival in Nigeria’s sporting calendar.
The traditional handover ceremony provided a glimpse into the future as the National Sports Festival flag was officially passed to Enugu State, hosts of the 2025 edition.
The Enugu Sports commissioner Lloyd Ekweremadu, assured the state is dedicated to hosting a world-class event that will become a benchmark for future editions. He highlighted Enugu’s readiness to welcome participants and spectators, with existing facilities set to undergo a facelift where necessary.
The comprehensive upgrade of sporting infrastructure in Ogun State has created a new hub for sports development not just in the state but also in southwestern Nigeria and beyond.
The medal table
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