2024 National Sports Festival: Ogun Stadia will get facelift

Hon. Wasiu Isiaka

Damilola Ajibola

The Ogun State Commissioner for Sports, Hon. Wasiu Isiaka, has said that arrangements are on top gear to give the four stadia in the State a facelift of world standard, in preparation for the 2024 National Sports Festival (NSF), to be hosted by the State.

Isiaka revealed this while featuring on a radio programme in Abeokuta, stating that the stadia after renovations, would be used for the soon-to-be resuscitated Gateway Tertiary Institution Games (GATIG), Principals Cup and other secondary school sporting activities, saying the games would serve as pre-tournaments to test run the National Sports Festival.

He stated further that the Sports Festival would showcase the rich cultural heritage of the State, expose its tourist sites, and increase the economic values of the Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMSEs) in and around the State.

The Commissioner, who said an Olympic size swimming pool would be erected inside the Stadia for use during and after the National Sports Festival, noted that trials for participation is open to all and sundry as anyone interested in any of the sports would participate, saying the present administration has made it easier to catch budding talents from the secondary schools and anywhere else.

“The Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun is a sports loving Governor, who loves sports passionately. He would not have contested for the hosting rights of the NSF if he was not interested in sports”, Hon. Isiaka stated.

While speaking on the Gateway United Football Club, the Commissioner revealed that with the current efforts being made on and off the pitch, the team would soon gain promotion to the Nigerian Professional Football League (NPFL).