Twenty-three states have arrived in Ogun State ahead of the 22nd edition of the National Sports Festival (NSF) , tagged Gateway Games 2024.

The biennial sporting event will officially commence on Sunday, May 19, 2025, bringing together over 15,000 athletes, officials, and government representatives from across the country.

The participating teams began arriving on Friday, generating excitement in Abeokuta for what is expected to be one of the most successful editions of the festival.

Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, had earlier invited world-renowned boxer Anthony Joshua during his visit to the state in December 2024, expressing his intention to formally name him as the state’s Sports Ambassador during the festival.

Chairman of the Local Organising Committee (LOC), Adetilewa Adebajo, confirmed that the Gateway Games will kick off with a grand opening ceremony.

“I’m honoured to announce that the Gateway Games, the 22nd edition of the National Sports Festival, is set to formally kick off today,” Adebajo said.

“As Chairman of the Local Organising Committee, I’m delighted to welcome the Nobel Laureate and other distinguished guests to Abeokuta for the 2025 NSF.”

NSC director confident of a landmark festival

Bukola Olopade, Director General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), expressed confidence that Ogun State is on track to host the best National Sports Festival in Nigerian history.

“Twenty-three states are already in camp, and their feeding and welfare are top-notch and seamless,” Olopade stated.

“I just spoke with leaders of four states who are already praising the state’s organisation.

“Globally, if you have an event of this magnitude, the first two things that matter are accommodation and feeding, and Ogun State has delivered impressively.”

The Gateway Games 2024 will run from May 16 to May 30, 2025, with athletes competing across various disciplines in what promises to be a celebration of unity, talent, and national pride.

Head of Sports at BusinessDay Media, a seasoned Digital Content Producer, and FIFA/CAF Accredited Journalist with over a decade of sports reporting.Has a deep understanding of the Nigerian and global sports landscape and skills in delivering comprehensive and insightful sports content.