President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has called on all levels of government in Nigeria to harness the transformative power of sports to drive economic growth and national development.
The president made this call on Thursday while officially declaring closed the 22nd National Sports Festival (NSF), tagged “Gateway Games 2024,” held in Abeokuta, Ogun State. Team Delta emerged as the overall winner, clinching a total of 323 medals at the 14-day event, which featured over 9,000 athletes competing in 33 different sports across various venues in the state.
Represented by the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, Tinubu reaffirmed his commitment to revitalizing the country’s fortunes and securing a brighter future for generations yet unborn.
“The sports festival is not just a celebration of national unity but also a celebration of the can-do spirit of Nigerians,” he said. “Sports has continued to be a driver of economic activities and the spirit of togetherness, especially with the accommodation of the athletes in one location. Every single participant in this festival is a winner.”
The president emphasized the need for the integration of sports into school curriculums nationwide, noting that such efforts would contribute significantly to economic revitalization.
“Sports have continued to contribute effectively to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the nation’s economy,” Tinubu added.
He lauded the efforts of stakeholders, particularly Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun, for providing world-class infrastructure and logistics that ensured the success of the games.
In his remarks, Governor Abiodun expressed appreciation to the National Sports Commission (NSC) for their fairness in medal tallying and congratulated all athletes for their dedication, resilience, and sportsmanship.
“I want to say congratulations; whether you are leaving here as winners, as runners-up, or by way of experience that you have gathered from this festival,” Abiodun said. “You should leave here with your shoulders high, knowing very well that you have represented your state and the nation well.”
Also speaking at the closing ceremony, NSC Chairman, Mallam Shehu Dikko, commended the Ogun State Government for setting a new benchmark in the hosting of the NSF.
“With the quality of infrastructure and warm reception, Ogun has raised the bar and set a new benchmark going forward,” Dikko said. “The festival has demonstrated the growing viability of the sports economy in Nigeria—from the sale of merchandise to local merchandising, hospitality and the increase of private partnerships.”
Dikko also thanked President Tinubu for his unwavering support for sports development, highlighting that the current administration has placed sports at the core of national development, youth empowerment, and global diplomacy.
The highlight of the closing ceremony was the symbolic handing over of the NSF flag by Governor Abiodun to Enugu State, which will host the next edition of the games in 2026.
The National Sports Festival is a biennial multi-sport event organized by the Federal Government of Nigeria. It serves as a platform to promote unity, sportsmanship, and athletic excellence across the country.
