Despite various obstacles and challenges before its ultimate starting date, the 2024 National Sports Festival was officially opened on May 21, 2025 by Chief Bukola Olopade, the Director-General of the National Sports Commission (NSC) in Ogun State.
Chief Olopade, the National Sports Commission DG acknowledged the Commission’s delight with the festival’s level of participation and overall arrangement and management, calling it as a big step forward in Nigerian sports growth. According to him, this is a historic event because they haven’t seen this level of athlete welfare and professionalism in the last two decades.
For the first time in recent memory, he claims, athletes are arriving at their hostels and being adequately fed and accommodated without confusion or any form of disappointment.
He informed sports journalists covering the event that all athletes and officials are staying at Babcock University, one of the festival’s main housing hubs.
Chief Olopade lauded the host facilities, stating that the high level of preparation had a significant impact on the smooth operation of the games.
The Director-General of the National Sports Commission also emphasized the excellent level of competition seen so far, citing outstanding performances in a variety of sporting events.
The NSC DG then stated that the calibre of play at the Sagamu and Babcock venues has been exceptional and then congratulates Ogun State Government on its exceptional efforts in hosting the festival, stating that the opening ceremony had received broad praise both within and outside of Nigeria, calling it as “a spectacle worthy of international recognition.
He lastly discussed the danger of drug addiction in sports and revealed that some athletes had been ejected from the festival for doping offenses, emphasizing the Commission’s commitment to clean sports.
He told sports journalists that NSC have zero tolerance for drug use in sports because they are dedicated to upholding the championship’s credibility.
He then thanked and appreciated journalists covering the festival, praising them, their effort and accurate reporting, which he said was critical to the event’s success and reputation.
The National Sports Festival is a gathering of Nigerian athletes from all 36 states of the federation, including the FCT, which many consider to be Nigeria’s most important sporting event.
It is also one of the most outstanding in recent memory, with a record-breaking number of approximately over 10,000 athletes and officials accredited for the biennial event.
The event, as previously reported, had undergone numerous tests and challenges before to its start date, including:
The first of these is infrastructure delays: As we all know, the festival was originally scheduled for 2024 but was postponed due to delays in refurbishing major facilities such as the MKO Abiola International Stadium and the Alake Sports Centre.
As of December 2024, doubts were raised concerning the readiness of certain venues, particularly the swimming pool and tartan tracks, which were then still under construction.
The second difficulty was logistical: the state’s key access highways, particularly the Lagos-Abeokuta Road, were believed to be in poor condition, causing possible transit challenges for athletes and spectators.
The third issue was repeated postponements: It was true that the festival was postponed multiple times, with the Joint Technical Committee meetings being rescheduled several times, raising concerns about the state’s preparedness.
However, the determination of the government offered relief as the Ogun State government undertook extensive restorations of sporting facilities..
The MKO Abiola Stadium now features a new hybrid AstroTurf, improved tracks, and an expanded VVIP pavilion. The Alake Sports Centre also experienced upgrades, such as refurbished indoor halls and courts.
In order to streamline logistics, the state government collaborated with Babcock University to accommodate roughly 15,000 athletes and officials in a single Games Village, providing better coordination and security.
Governor Dapo Abiodun of the host state openly declared his government’s readiness for the event when he granted a N16.5 million grant to assist 33 sports associations in athlete preparation and participation.
The state government also underlined the need for comprehensive security mechanisms, such as surveillance technology and collaboration with law enforcement authorities, to ensure the safety of all participants and visitors.
As a result, it is clear that all of this cannot continue indefinitely because the state stands to benefit tremendously in the following areas.
The first is Economic Boost, since the festival is projected to promote the local economy by increasing activity in the hotel, transportation, and tourism industries. Local businesses anticipate increased patronage as a result of the flood of visitors.
Sports growth or development comes next, since the state’s facilities have seen huge improvements, positioning them to serve as training grounds for future athletes and perhaps attract national and international sporting events, fostering long-term sports growth in the state.
Youth Engagement comes next because the festival offers a venue for young people to participate in sports, encouraging self-control, cooperation, and healthy competitiveness. The state hopes to use this to refocus young people’s attention on worthwhile endeavors.
Hosting the event would undoubtedly provide Ogun State with possibilities to succeed and improve on previous participation records, as it is fielding over 800 athletes across several sports in the present National Sports Festival.
Because records show that Ogun State finished seventh in the last tournament, with 15 gold, 18 silver, and 37 bronze medals. Thus, hosting the current event provides an opportunity for Ogun to improve on its prior performance.
As for the host, Ogun state athletes have the advantage of using familiar terrain and home support, which may improve their performance.
Prospects for the ongoing 22nd Edition of the National Sports Festival.
As the festival unfolds, states like Delta, Bayelsa and Rivers rise to first, second, and third place on the medal table, respectively. Team Delta leads the standings with a total of 103 medals: 44 gold, 19 silver, and 40 bronze.
While Team Bayelsa sits in second place with 33 gold, 23 silver, and 23 bronze medals.
Team Rivers occupies the third position with 26 gold, 21 silver, and 26 bronze.
Hosts Ogun State are in fourth place with 25 gold, 16 silver, and 24 bronze, while Team Oyo, that hosts the 1979 edition, are in fifth with 16 gold, 17 silver, and 21 bronze.
Team Lagos, the four-time champions, are currently in sixth position after collecting 11 gold, 11 silver, and 25 bronze medals.with Oyo and Edo in fifth and sixth place, respectively.
So far, only Plateau State is among the top ten states on the medals table among all Northern states competing with 4 Gold, 3 Silver and 11 Bronze.
But it is a sad story for Team Kano as it is occupying 18th position with no Gold, 3 Silver and 9 Bronze totalling 12 medals.
Test for Team Kano. Team Kano has sent a delegation of 173 athletes to compete in 18 to 19 sports disciplines, including handball, football, volleyball, beach volleyball, cycling, gymnastics, judo, karate, kickboxing, para powerlifting, swimming, taekwondo, wrestling, kung fu, boxing, chess, and weightlifting.
It is also sad to see FCT, Niger, Kwara and Nasarawa states ahead of Team Kano, but only ahead of Borno, Bauchi, Kaduna, Taraba and Kebbi states..
Other northern states are nowhere to be found on the medals table, indicating their inadequacy and lack of commitment to national sports.
While official medal statistics for the current festival are not yet available, Team Kano’s preparation and participation show a significant determination to improve on their prior performance, yet the results are a complete letdown and disastrous.
But for the sake of history, Kano won 19 gold, 27 silver, and 30 bronze medals in the 21st NSF in Asaba in 2022, for a total of 76 medals and seventh place overall.
However, the Kano State Sports Commission, led by Acting Chairman Alhaji Ibrahim Umar Fagge (aka FIFA), has underlined the significance of targeted training and athlete care.
The state also achieved history by qualifying for the football tournament for the first time in over 20 years, demonstrating growth in team sports development.
For the time being, I doubt Team Kano will return home with a complete complement of medals because its current position on the medal table is unimpressive; nonetheless, here are strategic advice for them to improve their future performance at the National Sports Festival (NSF):
1. (a) Grassroots Talent Development: The Commission must establish sports academies across senatorial districts to scout and nurture young talents.
(b) Organize inter-school and inter-local government competitions to identify promising athletes early.
(c) Collaborate with the Ministry of Education to integrate sports into the school curriculum.
2. Improved Funding and Sponsorship
(a)Increase the sports budget to cover athlete welfare, training, equipment, and international exposure.
(b)Seek public-private partnerships (PPP) to attract corporate sponsorship and reduce reliance on government-only funding
3. Year-Round Training Programs
(a)Set up permanent training camps for continuous athlete development.
(b)Employ full-time professional coaches in various sports disciplines.
(c) Schedule regular training tours and competitions for athletes to gain experience.
4. Upgrade of Sporting Infrastructure
(a)Modernize key facilities such as Sani Abacha Stadium and other local sports centers.
(b)Ensure availability of standard equipment for all NSF disciplines.
(c)Maintain facilities year-round to support athlete readiness.
5. Athlete Welfare and Incentives
(a)Provide scholarships, allowances, and post-career support to athletes.
(b)Introduce performance-based incentives (e.g., bonuses for medal wins).
(c)Offer healthcare and insurance coverage for all athletes and staff.
6. Strategic Sports Focus
(a)Analyze past performances to focus on medal-yielding sports like taekwondo, judo, boxing, weightlifting, and athletics.
(b)Invest more in individual sports where Kano has higher chances of dominating.
7. Stronger Leadership and Accountability
(a)Establish a performance evaluation system for coaches and sports administrators.
(b) Encourage transparent selection processes for athletes to build credibility and trust.
(c)Appoint a sports advisory board involving former athletes, professionals, and stakeholders.
8. Promotion and Community Engagement
(a)Run awareness campaigns to build community support and attract young talent.
(b)Celebrate NSF achievements through media, awards, and recognition ceremonies.
By implementing these ideas, Team Kano can establish itself as a consistent top contender at future National Sports Festivals, promoting pride, unity, and economic development via sports.