The Ogun State governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, has declared the readiness of his state to host the 22nd edition of the National Sports Festival (NSF) in 2024.
Governor Abiodun made the declaration in his office, Abeokuta, when he played host to the 22nd NSF evaluation committee.
The governor in a statement issued by his chief press secretary, Kunle Somorin, at the weekend, expressed his conviction that no other state can defeat Ogun in its plans to host the festival after almost 16 years it hosted it.
Abiodun, while noting that Ogun is one of the most peaceful states in the country, urged the committee to make security, peaceful atmosphere and the well-being of the athletes the most important considerations above others.
“Our state is the Gateway State and I do not think that any other state can compete and defeat us in the bidding for this National Sports Festival.
“I assure you that we will be ready to host this Sports Festival. I want to thank the Minister of Sports and Youth Development, Mr Sunday Dare. And I have told him, we are hosting this festival, we are ready for it.
“I believe in a festival like this, one of your topmost considerations should be a venue where you can guarantee the safety of the athletes and also the visitors. I think that consideration ranks higher than any other consideration, it has to be number one and once you take that on your checklist, you can begin to look at other areas.
“Ogun State is one of the most peaceful states in the country and I think that is a very serious consideration and we will continue to do everything to sustain that role as one of the most peaceful states in the country,” Governor Abiodun said.
Earlier in his remarks, the leader of the 22nd National Sport Festival Evaluation Committee, Peter Nelson, who commended the state government for showing interest to host the festival, opined that the state can surpass its record of being the only state to have hosted and made a huge profit, if it gets the nod to host the event.
“I hope and pray that when we go for the inspection, the things that we see in sight will be impressive. I think we should be able to give Ogun State another chance to host like we did to Edo some time ago and also Lagos,” he said.
A former commissioner for youths sport in the state, Bukola Olopade, while expressing optimism that the state would win the bid to host the festival in 2024, said that he looked forward to a successful bidding process.
