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Gateway Games 2024: A Celebration of Sporting Excellence, Record-Breaking Achievements

"The festival was designed to promote unity, sports development, and national pride, and it achieved all of these objectives in grand style"

Samuel AkpanJune 3, 2025707

The 22nd National Sports Festival, tagged Gateway Games 2024, which took place from May 16 to May 30 in Abeokuta, Ogun State, has left a lasting legacy of remarkable athletic achievements and memorable moments.

Grand Opening and Distinguished Guests

The festival commenced with a spectacular opening ceremony at the MKO Abiola Stadium in Abeokuta. The event was graced by an array of prominent figures, including former President Olusegun Obasanjo and Nobel laureate Prof. Wole Soyinka.

Vice President Kashim Shettima, representing President Bola Tinubu, officially declared the games open. Other notable attendees included state governors, senators, and traditional rulers, adding significant prestige to the occasion. The highlight of the evening was an electrifying performance by Afrobeat superstar Davido, which captivated the enthusiastic crowd.

A Celebration of Nigerian Sporting Talent

Featuring over 30 sports disciplines, the Gateway Games 2024 showcased Nigeria’s finest athletic talents from all 36 states, the Federal Capital Territory, and a contingent of Invited Junior Athletes.

The festival served as a vibrant celebration of excellence, fostering unity, promoting sports development, and igniting national pride, achieving these objectives with resounding success. Thousands of spectators filled the venues, passionately cheering on their favorite teams and athletes.

Record-Breaking Feats

The festival was particularly notable for several record-breaking performances:
* Omolola Tobiloba Akinsanmi, a 15-year-old swimmer from Ogun State, shattered two national records. She clinched gold in the women’s 800m freestyle, setting a new national record of 10:22.32 seconds, and also won the 400m freestyle with a new festival record of 4:53.34 seconds.
* Clinton Opute of Team Delta made history by breaking a 16-year national record in the Men’s 200m Butterfly final. His gold-medal-winning swim recorded an incredible 2:10.8 seconds, significantly surpassing the previous record of 2:13.1 seconds set in 2006.
* Kolade Otunla, another Ogun State swimmer, broke both a national and festival record in the men’s 100m backstroke event, securing gold with a time of 1:02.41 seconds, surpassing the 2018 record.
* Patience Okon of Team Cross River set a new festival record in the Women’s 400m event with a time of 51.64 seconds, besting the 2020 record of 51.70 seconds. Okon successfully defended the crown she first won in Delta in 2022.

Medal Tally and Host Innovation

Delta State once again demonstrated its sporting prowess, dominating the medals table with a record-breaking haul of 122 gold, 96 silver, and 105 bronze medals. This consistent success underscores years of strategic investment in sports development and athlete training.

Ogun State, the host, surged into second place, securing 92 gold, 64 silver, and 78 bronze medals, narrowly edging out Bayelsa, which finished third with 91 gold, 61 silver, and 70 bronze medals.

In a historic first for the festival, Ogun State made the bold decision to house all participants in a single, centralized environment on the campus of Babcock University, Ilishan. Despite its distance from some competition venues, this “Olympic Village”-style setup proved to be a masterstroke, providing a safe, isolated space for athletes to focus. The university transformed into a vibrant hub where athletes from diverse backgrounds bonded and fueled their ambitions.

The “Fueling the Champions” initiative, which served over 400,000 food packs, was a major success, providing athletes with nutritious meals essential for their performance. This unique arrangement fostered camaraderie, turning strangers into teammates and igniting the competitive spirit.

Legacy and Tragic Aftermath

The Gateway Games 2024 was a resounding success, showcasing the best of Nigerian sports and culture, and affirming the country’s capacity to host world-class events. The MKO Abiola Stadium Complex, with its state-of-the-art facilities, provided an electrifying atmosphere. Beyond the official venues, an unplanned, lively street gathering outside the stadium gates, filled with vendors, gamers, and partygoers, became a cherished aspect of the festival, fostering a sense of community.

The festival also highlighted the promising future of Nigerian sports, with young talents like Omolola Tobiloba Akinsanmi and Kolade Otunla demonstrating immense potential. The Invited Junior Athletes (IJA) also performed commendably, finishing 18th on the medals table with 2 gold, 9 silver, and 11 bronze medals.

The closing ceremony was a dazzling display of music and culture, featuring captivating performances by Fuji icon K1 De Ultimate and Wande Coal.

However, the jubilation was tragically cut short. Less than 48 hours after the festival concluded, a fatal road crash along the Kano–Kaduna highway claimed the lives of 22 people, according to Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) officials.

The victims were members of the Kano State contingent, reportedly returning from the National Sports Festival. A survivor, Ado Salisu, confirmed the accident occurred just hours before their expected arrival in Kano.

National Sports Commission Chairman, Shehu Dikko, described the day as “a very sad day for Nigerian sports.”

“Our hearts are with the people of Kano State at this sad time. Just as we were celebrating a successful and peaceful National Sports Festival, this tragedy has cast a dark shadow.

“We stand in solidarity with the Kano State Government and will support them in every possible way as they navigate this difficult period,” he said.

Final Medals Table

Gold, Silver Bronze

1. Delta 122 96 105 323

2. Bayelsa 92 62 70 224

3. Ogun 90 64 78 232

4. Rivers 74 56 63 193

5. Edo 63 96 115 274

6. Oyo 36 36 49 121

7. Lagos 35 43 85 163

8. FCT 14 8 17 39

9. Osun 13 3 11 27