Column, DNEWSINFO
The 2025 National Sports Festival, hosted by Ogun State, took place in May 2025, attracting approximately 10,000 athletes from across Nigeria. This bi-annual event, organized by the Federal Government of Nigeria through the National Sports Commission, serves several key objectives: curbing age cheating in sports, building a robust talent pool of athletes, promoting national unity, elevating sports at the grassroots level, and enhancing cultural and educational development.
On May 17, 2025, no fewer than 23 states had already arrived in Ogun State to participate in the festival, which was tagged the “Gateway Games.” According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the biennial festival was officially scheduled to commence on Sunday, May 18, 2025. The Director-General of the National Sports Commission, Bukola Olopade, disclosed in an interview with NAN on May 18 in Abeokuta that there were clear signs that Ogun State was poised to host the best festival in Nigeria’s history. The festival left a lasting legacy in terms of sports infrastructure, with the M.K.O. Abiola Stadium refurbished and upgraded to host major international events.
By May 18, all 36 states were in attendance, ready with their teams of more than 10,000 athletes poised to compete for glory. Despite weather forecasts predicting rain, the atmosphere was electric. The opening ceremony kicked off at 5 p.m. at the M.K.O. Abiola Stadium. Notable figures including former President Olusegun Obasanjo and members of the organizing committee were present at the event. The grand march-past began with Abia State leading the procession.
On May 19, 2025, President Bola Tinubu officially declared the National Sports Festival open, urging all competitors to uphold the spirit of integrity throughout the competition. The festival progressed with various sporting events until all competitions concluded.
Tragically, after the festival ended, sad news emerged about some athletes involved in an accident while returning home. Several were injured, and some lost their lives before reaching the hospital. This unfortunate incident cast a somber shadow over an otherwise successful event, serving as a painful reminder of the risks associated with travel during such nationwide events.
The Ogun State National Sports Festival 2025 will be remembered for both its sporting achievements and the infrastructure legacy it left behind, alongside the deep sorrow over the accident that affected some of its athletes.
Edited and Compiled by Olalekan Maleeq | July 24, 2025
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