The 22nd National Sports Festival (NSF), tagged Gateway Games, kicked off in Abeokuta with a colourful opening ceremony attended by several dignitaries.
Vice-President Kashim Shettima, former President Olusegun Obasanjo, and Nobel laureate Professor Wole Soyinka were among the notable attendees.
The ceremony took place at the MKO Abiola Stadium in Abeokuta on Sunday and was also attended by several state governors, including Charles Soludo of Anambra, Senator Hope Uzodimma of Imo, Ademola Adeleke of Osun, and Usman Ododo of Kogi.
Other attendees included the deputy governor of Ekiti State, Monisade Afuye, former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dimeji Bankole, and former Ogun State governors Olusegun Osoba and Senator Gbenga Daniel.
The Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, was also present, along with several members of the National Assembly.
The 22nd NSF, which began on May 16 and would run until May 30, features athletes competing in 23 sports events.
The festival’s previous edition, held in Asaba, saw Team Delta emerge as the overall winner with 320 gold medals, 200 silver medals, and 128 bronze medals.
Team Bayelsa came second, followed by Team Edo in third place.
