Gov. Dapo Abiodun of Ogun has called on Nigerians to use sporting activities to foster peaceful co-existence in the country.
Abiodun made the call on Sunday in Abeokuta at the opening of the 22nd edition of the National Sports Festival, tagged ‘Gateway Games’ 2024.
Abiodun stated that the festival was not just a sporting event, rather a celebration to build a stronger Nigeria.
Abiodun reaffirmed the commitment to building a future where talent would be nurtured, hardwork rewarded, while the state remained a beacon of excellence.
“Our bid to host this event is on our unshakable belief in the transformative power of sports, and as a catalyst for socioeconomic development and youth empowerment.
“The reason behind the formation of the biennial event is to promote unity and celebrate the nation’s rich diversity through sports,” he said.
The governor said that the state decided to host the event to use it as a catalyst to grow the state and also serve as youth empowerment.
He lauded President Bola Tinubu for supporting the state towards a successful hosting of the event.
The governor commended everyone that contributed to the planning of the festival, adding that the sporting event would serve as another opportunity to discover new talents.
He assured that the state government had deployed formidable security mechanisms for a hitch free event.
Abiodun urged the athletes not to be desperate about winning medals but competing with integrity and honour.
Welcoming the participants, the Commissioner for Sports, Mr Wasiu Isiaka, noted that the state had put in place world class facilities to the delight of the participants.
Isiaka urged the participating states to feel at home , saying that everything had been put in place for them to enjoy their stay in the state.
The commissioner stated that the state governor had personally taken his time to ensure that all that was needed for the successful hosting of the festival was provided.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the biennial multi-sport event which features 33 sports, started on May 16 and will end on May 30.
