The National Sports Festival, originally scheduled for January, has been postponed once again to May 2025.
The 22nd edition of the festival, branded “Gateway Games, Ogun 2024,” will now take place from May 16 to 30, 2025.
Ogun State had won the bid to host the festival during the closing ceremony of the 21st NSF on December 10, 2022, with plans initially set for November 2024. However, due to unforeseen circumstances and the state’s lack of readiness, the event was first postponed to January 12, 2025.
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In October, Governor Dapo Abiodun had inspected renovations at the MKO Abiola Stadium and the Ijeja Sports Centre, assuring that preparations were underway for the January 2025 event.
However, after a Joint Technical Meeting held in Abeokuta on Thursday night, the festival was again rescheduled. The communique issued after the meeting was signed by Adebukola Olopade, Director General of the National Sports Commission and Chairman of the Main Organizing Committee, and Wasiu Isiaka, Ogun State’s Commissioner for Sports.
The communique stated, “The JT meeting agreed that to allow time for implementing observations and recommendations, the 22nd National Sports Festival will now take place from May 16-30, 2025. The Zonal Eliminations for Team Sports will occur from February 23-28, 2025.”
The meeting also agreed to use the inspection report from the 1st Joint Technical Meeting as a checklist to guide the state’s preparations.
Wasiu Isiaka expressed his satisfaction with the decision, noting that the additional time will allow the state to further enhance its infrastructure and resources, ensuring the festival will be a major success and set a benchmark for future events.