Tinubu Flags Off Sports Festival, Vows Revived NSC Will End Power Play
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has declared that his administration’s revival of the National Sports Commission (NSC) was a strategic intervention aimed at insulating the sports sector from entrenched interests and bureaucratic hurdles that have long hampered its growth.
Speaking through Vice President Kashim Shettima at the opening ceremony of the 22nd National Sports Festival — tagged Gateway Games Ogun 2024 — in Abeokuta on Sunday, the President emphasized that sports has evolved into a vital engine for unity, youth development, and national pride.
“We have chosen to shield the sports sector from bureaucratic interference and vested power interests,” Tinubu stated. “We want it to thrive — autonomous, innovative, and focused — because we recognise its critical place in building a healthier, stronger, and more united Nigeria.”
The President underscored the importance of sports as more than just a physical contest, but as “the soul of our nation’s togetherness” and a “mirror that reflects the possibilities of a truly united country.”
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Explaining the rationale behind the return of the NSC, which had been dormant for nearly a decade, Tinubu said it was imperative to reposition a sector that continues to elevate Nigeria’s global reputation. He cited examples from Nigeria’s sporting history — from Olympic medalists to world-class footballers — as proof of the nation’s enduring legacy in sports.
“We’ve made sports a culture — a way of life, a tool for national integration, and a workshop for building not just the body, but also the mind and spirit of our people,” he said.
Declaring the festival open, Tinubu described the Gateway Games as a reaffirmation of his administration’s investment — both material and emotional — in the spirit of sportsmanship. He lauded the choice of Ogun State as host, adding that the event resonates beyond its borders, uniting Nigerians from every corner of the country.
He commended Governor Dapo Abiodun for the state’s outstanding preparation and hospitality, noting, “Ogun has reasserted itself as a gateway to greatness.”
Tinubu called on athletes to see the torch-lighting ceremony not just as the start of a competition, but as a symbol of Nigeria’s diversity and shared identity.
In his address, Governor Abiodun described the event as a platform for national unity, economic stimulation, and youth empowerment. “The President’s endorsement of this festival underscores his deep commitment to sports as a vehicle for national development,” he said.
He added that Ogun’s decision to host the games was rooted in its belief in the power of sports to transcend differences and energize communities.
Chairman of the reactivated NSC, Alhaji Shehu Dikko, pledged to lead the Commission in producing world-class athletes and transforming Nigeria’s sporting landscape. Ogun State Commissioner for Sports, Mr. Wasil Ishiaka, echoed this, stressing that the festival will spark competitive spirit, change lives, and build stronger communities.
As the festival torch blazed into life, it lit more than the Abeokuta skyline — it rekindled hope for a unified, thriving sporting future for Nigeria.
