Curtain closes on 22nd NSF

Posted : 29 May 2025

After 11 days of a true showcase of sporting competition across multiple sports by some of the country's top and most promising athletes, the curtain will finally be drawn on what many have described as one of the best-organised National Sports Festivals ever, when the closing ceremony is held at the MKO Sports Arena in Abeokuta.

While the quality of the Games' opening ceremony is still generating excitement, the entire sporting community—and beyond—is now anxiously looking forward to what the closing ceremony will bring.

The past 11 days have positioned Ogun State as a true sporting hub, with the potential to do even more, thanks to the quality of the facilities built for the Games and the enthusiasm of the people who turned the various venues into their second home throughout the event.

A major testament to this was the record-breaking crowd that attended the male football final between Ogun State and Kwara State, which the hosts won 4–1.

The MKO Stadium was filled to capacity, while the crowd outside watching from the big screens was a vivid reminder of how much sport truly unites us as a nation.

From the Alake Sports Centre in Ijeja and the Baptist Boys High School, to the Obafemi Awolowo Square and the Remo Stadium in Ikenne, to the NYSC Orientation Camp in Shagamu and the Ilisan Town Hall in Ilisan, the festival never lacked enthusiastic spectators throughout the Games.

The event lived up to its pre-tournament hype, as both the National Sports Commission (NSC) and the Ogun State Government deployed every administrative resource to ensure athletes, officials, and the media had an unforgettable experience.

The Gateway Games 2024 were full of exciting drama and intrigue, with states and athletes setting new records and breaking old ones.

The festival also revealed exciting new talents for the country, especially through the unexpected performance of the 38th contingent, the Invited Junior Athletes (IJA), who ended up winning surprise medals—justifying the Commission's establishment of the initiative.

As the closing ceremony takes place, the leadership of the National Sports Commission (NSC) expresses profound gratitude to the Federal Government of Nigeria and the Ogun State Government for ensuring that millions of Nigerian youths see a renewed and brighter future through the National Sports Festival.

NSC Chairman Shehu Dilko said, “Our overwhelming gratitude goes to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, for his personal commitment to the development of Nigerian sports by providing all necessary support—financial and otherwise—for the success of this festival.”

“And the Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, also deserves huge praise for the success we have collectively recorded with these Games. I can't thank him enough, and posterity will surely remember him favorably.”

NSC Director General and Chairman of the Main Organising Committee, Bukola Olopade, also extended his gratitude to all the technocrats behind the scenes who were responsible for the successful organisation of the Games.

“From all members of the Main Organising Committee to the various sub-committees, members of the Local Organising Committees, our technical officials across various sports, the media, and our athletes—every success being talked about belongs to you all.”

“Yes, it wasn’t a perfect festival—we acknowledge that there were some challenges. But let me assure everyone that we are already working to address those issues ahead of the next Games, which will be held in Enugu State next year,” he concluded.

The closing ceremony is expected to bring together top government functionaries and captains of industry, alongside a rich cultural display from the host state. Ogun State will officially pass the baton of hosting to Enugu State for the 23rd edition of the Games in September 2026.

Curtain closes on 22nd NSF

ADD A COMMENT :

Hot Topics