By Akpos Oje
Delta State has reaffirmed its position as Nigeria’s undisputed sporting powerhouse, emerging overall champions of the 2024 National Sports Festival held in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
This marks the fifth consecutive victory for the state at the biennial event, often described as Nigeria’s “mini-Olympics.”
The official announcement was made at the festival’s closing ceremony on Thursday by Bukola Olopade, Chairperson of the Main Organising Committee for the Gateway Games 2024.
Delta State clinched the top spot with a commanding total of 257 medals, including 109 gold, underscoring its dominance across various sporting disciplines. Despite the final medal tally being slightly delayed due to the ongoing Table Tennis finals, Delta’s lead was already insurmountable.
This latest triumph reflects years of sustained investment in sports infrastructure, athlete development, and youth empowerment by the state government. Delta’s structured approach to talent discovery and training has created a formidable pipeline that consistently delivers results at the national level.
The 2024 festival also spotlighted important strides in gender inclusion within Nigerian sports. The Nigeria Olympic Committee’s Women Commission presented special recognition awards to Anambra and Kogi States, as well as a group of Invited Junior Athletes, in acknowledgment of their efforts to promote equal participation of women in sports. The initiative was widely praised as a meaningful step toward addressing the gender gap in sports representation.
With the curtain now drawn on the Gateway Games 2024, all eyes turn to Enugu State, officially announced as the host of the next National Sports Festival. Organisers have expressed optimism that Enugu will not only uphold the high standards of competition but also build upon the gender inclusion initiatives introduced this year.
Beyond medals and rankings, the National Sports Festival continues to be a vital platform for showcasing Nigeria’s rich diversity, athletic excellence, and national unity.
