About 17 years after it last hosted the event, Ogun State is gearing to host a world-class National Sports Festival in 2024, promising to beat the standards set by the last two hosts, Delta and Edo States.
To this effect, Ogun State Government and the Federal Government, through the Federal Ministry of Sports and Youth Development, on Saturday signed a Memorandum of Understanding on hosting the biennial multi-sport event organized by the Federal Government through the National Sports Commission for athletes from the 36 states of the federation.
This is coming about five months after Ogun State won the hosting rights to the 2024 event at the closing ceremony of the 2022 event hosted by Delta State.
Ogun State governor, Dapo Abiodun, who signed the MOU on behalf of the state, said that Ogun was noted for recording many firsts and the hosting of the competition would not be an exception.
“Ogun State indigenes have invested in sports development in Nigeria. Apart from that, we have eminent sports men and women who have distinguished themselves and brought glory to this country. We are ready to host a world-class festival next year. We have capable hands and sponsors that are ready to support us,” the governor said after the signing ceremony at the Governor’s Office in Abeokuta, the state capital.
He assured the Minister of Sports and Youth Development, Sunday Dare, who signed for the Federal Government, that the state would not disappoint but would live up to expectations as reflected in the MoU.
“I want to assure you that, like you have said to me, that the one in Edo was a very good showing, the one in Delta was better than the one in Edo, the one in Ogun will be the best. We will immediately move to set up a Local Organizing Committee,” Abiodun said.
Recall that the 2020 edition of the National Sports Festival slated for March 2020 at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City, Edo State, was postponed to December 2020 following the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. It was eventually held in 2021. The 2024 edition will be the 22nd National Sports Festival.
Abiodun explained that the National Sports Festival was developed to promote unity and cohesion among the youths. He observed that Ogun has a huge number of youths due to the large number of education institutions and that his administration has developed strategies to gainfully engage these youths through sports and other relevant activities.
“Sport is a tool to teach our youth leadership skills development, discipline, team work and self-confidence. When youth are busy through sports engagements, they won’t have time for social vices. Some of them have developed into world beaters and we will continue to encourage them,” he said.
The governor recalled that the state performed well in the last edition of the festival, hauling 70 medals. He appreciated the minister and the Federal Ministry of Sports for supporting the state at the bidding stage, assuring that all necessary steps would be taken to ensure a successful sports festival next year.
Responding, the minister said the choice of Ogun State as the next host of the festival was due to its culture of sports development, availability of sporting infrastructure and potential to host a befitting festival whose memory would linger for a long time.
Dare said the state was blessed with prominent sports men and women who have made the country proud, expressing confidence that its performance as the host of the next edition would surpass the last two editions.
He urged the state to commence preparation as soon as possible while also assuring corporate bodies that would sponsor the competition of handsome incentives in terms of tax holidays, among others.
The National Sports Festival was first staged in 1973 at the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos. Its objectives were to promote national unity, enhance cultural and educational development, build a robust talent pool of athletes, enhance and elevate sports at grassroots level, establish a standard programme for athletes’ succession, encourage early participation in sports, among others.
