stages an inspiring closing ceremony as Delta retains title
Ogun State took the hosting of the National Sports festival to another new level after ending the Games with a breathtaking closing ceremony on Thursday at the MKO Sports Arena.
After about two weeks of non stop competition, the closing ceremony had every element of a true global sporting spectacle.
From the quality of attendance, to the inspiring calisthenic display, to the musical performances and the different inspiring speeches of top government dignitaries, Thursday’s closing ceremony has definitely raised the bar for future games.
Unarguably no state seemed to have done it better to inspire thousands of Nigerian youths using the power of Sports, like Ogun state, and the show it displayed for both the opening and the closing ceremony, will leave a lasting legacy for a very long time.
Delta state emerged the winners of the games and successfully defended the title they won two years ago in Asaba as host, with a total of 337 medals, out of which 126 are gold , 100 silver and 111 bronze.
Ogun state finished second with 93 Gold, 65 silver and 80 silver while Bayelsa state finished third with 92 Gold, 65 silver and 71 bronze medals.
To complete the top five are River and Edo states.Rivers ended 4th with 76 Gold, 58 silver and 65 bronze while Edo finished 5th with 73 Gold , 101 silver and 119 bronze medal.
Lagos finishes 6th with 38 Gold, 43 silver , 88 bronze medal, Oyo finished in 7th with 38 Gold, 37 silver and 51 bronze.FCT ended in 8th spot with 14 Gold, 8 silver and 17 bronze medal while Osun was the 9th state with 13 Gold, 3 silver and 11 bronze medal and Akwa Ibom completes the top ten with 12 Gold , 11 silver and 20 bronze medals.
The highly commended Invited Junior Athletes( IJA) ended the festival in an impressive 18th position with 2 gold, 9 silver and 11 bronze medals to inspire the next generation of Nigerian athletes.
A total of 2139 medals was won at the games with 633 Gold medals, 624 silver and 882 bronze medals.
Anambra state won the gender balanced award for an impressive equal based number of male and female contingents to the games.
The Senate President, senator Godwill Akpabio who was the special guest of honour, on behalf of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, thanked the Government of Ogun state and the good people of the state for being a very good host throughout the games.
” This has truly been a festival of national unity and development. When you look at what the Governor, Dapo Abiodun has invested in the area of infrastructure for these games, you will see that our sports is on the right path”.
The Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun promised to ensure the gains of the festival are sustained especially with the sporting infrastructure built for the games.
” We are truly fulfilled for hosting the entire country in the last few days and doing this has even inspired us to ensure we keep this momentum by ensuring the adequate maintenance of our sporting infrastructure for many years to come”.
The Chairman of the National Sports Commission, NSC, Mallam Shehu Dikko extended his heartfelt appreciation to all the stakeholders that ensure the success of the games.
” The NSC is very grateful to everyone that sacrificed day and night to ensure we delivered a very good games with the festival. Our appreciation first goes to Mr President, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, while the Governor of Ogun state, Dapo Abiodun, has also shown an inspiring path as a true sports leader”.
The NSC Director General, Hon Bukola Olopade, who doubles as the Chairman of the Main Organising Committee, however charged the next host state, Enugu to further raise the bar of the games as the hosting flag was officially passed to the coal city state for the 23rd edition.
” Ogun state has done an exceptional job as a host and this is due to the visionary and intentional leadership of the Governor, Dapo Abiodun, and this is the standard Enugu state must try to surpass and i have no doubt that Governor Peter Mbah, will deliver another World class Games in 2026″.
The high point of the closing ceremony was the cutting of cake to mark the 65th birthday of Governor Dapo Abiodun led by the senate President and the entire spectators at the stadium also chorused to sing a happy birthday song for the Governor like a mass choir.
Fuji Legend King Wasiu Ayinde Marshal ( Kwam 1) later lit up the stadium with a dazzling display on stage before Afrobeat music super star, Wande coal took the entire crowd, including the Governor to another carnival of non-stop performance.
Gateway Games 2024 was truly a festival as the founding fathers of the Games originally intended it to be.
Signed,
Dr (mrs) Kehinde Ajayi FCAI, ANIPR , Director Press,
National Sports Commission, NSC
May 30th 2025
