The 22nd National Sports Festival, which has showcased some of the country’s top athletes and promising talents over the past 11 days, will come to a close with a spectacular closing ceremony on Thursday at the MKO Sports Arena in Abeokuta. The festival has been hailed as one of the best-organized National Sports festivals, with the quality of the games and facilities exceeding expectations.
The festival has not only showcased the sporting prowess of Nigerian athletes but also highlighted Ogun State’s potential as a sporting hub. The enthusiasm of the people and the quality of the facilities built for the games have been impressive. The history-making crowd that attended the male football final between Ogun State and Kwara State, which the host won 4-1, is a testament to the popularity of the festival.
The festival has lived up to its pre-tournament hype, with the National Sports Commission (NSC) and the Ogun State Government pulling out all the stops to ensure an unforgettable experience for athletes, officials, and the media. The games have been full of exciting drama and intrigue, with new records being set and old records being shattered.
The festival has also produced some new exciting young talents, particularly with the impressive performance of the Invited Junior Athletes (IJA), who won some surprise medals. The NSC Chairman, Mallam Shehu Dilko, has expressed his gratitude to the Federal Government and the Ogun State Government for their support, which has given millions of Nigerian youths a renewed sense of hope and purpose.
As the closing ceremony approaches, the NSC leadership is expecting a grand finale, with top government functionaries, captains of industry, and rich cultural displays from Ogun State. The state will officially pass the baton of hosting to Enugu State for the 23rd edition of the games in September 2026.
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