The Joint Technical Committee for the 22nd National Sports Festival, Ogun 2024, has rescheduled the Games to May 16–30, 2025.
This adjustment is aimed at aligning the festival with Nigeria’s evolving sports policies and implementing recommendations from the committee’s technical review.
A communiqué jointly signed by the Director General of the National Sports Commission and Chairman of the Main Organizing Committee, Hon. Adebukola Olopade, alongside the Ogun State Commissioner for Sports Development, Hon. Wasiu Isiaka, confirmed the decision.
As per the revised timeline, zonal eliminations for team sports will now hold earlier, from February 23–28, 2025.
The committee expressed gratitude to the Federal Government for its commitment to sports development, including the creation of a specialized commission for sports management. They also acknowledged the Ogun State Government, its residents, Babcock University, and Chief Kunle Soname for their contributions to festival preparations.
Hon. Olopade highlighted the federal government’s vision of integrating economic sustainability into sports and noted that the five-month extension would enable seamless and innovative event planning.
“The additional time will help us deliver a festival that showcases our organizational capacity,” he said.
A key feature of the festival is the Invited Junior Athletes (IJA) program, which allows young talents to compete as a symbolic “38th state.” Hon. Olopade described this initiative as a significant step toward nurturing future athletes and giving them exposure on a national stage.
The meeting, held on December 19, 2024, at the Banquet Hall of Mitros Residence and Suites in Abeokuta, Ogun State, included an inspection of proposed venues and facilities for the festival.
A follow-up meeting and further inspections are planned to ensure all preparations are finalized ahead of the event.
With the revised date, stakeholders are optimistic about delivering a festival that surpasses expectations, further solidifying Ogun State’s reputation as a center for sporting excellence in Nigeria.
