Ogun State Governor Prince Dapo Abiodun has highlighted the economic importance of hosting the National Sports Festival while reinforcing the state’s readiness for the event.
The governor embarked on a tour of the facilities earmarked for the festival at the MKO Abiola International Stadium, the Olympic-sized swimming pool, tennis courts, and handball court behind the main bowl, as well as the Alake Sports Centre, all in Abeokuta.
Abiodun also confirmed that the facilities will be used for other national and international competitions after the National Sports Festival in May.
He said, “The festival itself will allow us to host maybe 15,000 people in the city of Abeokuta. You can imagine that those people will be eating and drinking; they will be transported back and forth. They will be buying recharge cards and water.
“Where am I going? They will be visiting our tourist sites. We are getting Olumo Rock and other adjoining tourist centres ready for the games. There will be a lot of visitors sleeping in hotels.
“The economic impact of this festival on the economy of this state can best be imagined; the multiplier effect will be felt more after the games.”
The governor disclosed that the MKO Abiola International Stadium, which is under renovation for the festival, has already been chosen by the African Athletics Federation to host the Under-20 athletics competition in 2026.
He said, “The track that we installed here has already begun to reap benefits. The African Athletics Federation, because of the quality of our tracks, has chosen Ogun State to host the athletics competition in 2026 for the under-20.
“So, you find that based on what we have done, Ogun State will now become home to other world-class competitions across the country, across Sub-Saharan Africa, and even internationally.
“For us, we are already excited that this investment has begun to yield dividends. This will be one of the legacies of our administration.”
Abiodun assured that the stadium will only be used for sporting activities and not political rallies, parties and state celebrations.
He said, “Let me assure you that the stadium will only be used for sporting activities. To that extent, we’ve chosen to construct a pavilion somewhere behind the stadium, and that pavilion will now be used for rallies, parties, march pasts, October 1 celebrations, Labour Day celebrations, community days, and Democracy Day.
“All those events will cease to happen in the stadium; the stadium will be made available only for sporting activities.”
The National Sports Festival tagged “Gateway Games, Ogun 2024” will be held between May 16 and 30, 2025.
It will be the second time Ogun is hosting the National Sports Festival, after hosting it in 2006 during the administration of Otunba Gbenga Daniel.
