By our Reporter
Ogun State is determined to foster youth engagement through the National Sport festival.
The festival which is poised to raise the bar for hosting the future sporting event, as its commitment to sports development is evident through its ongoing massive rehabilitation across its sporting infrastructure.
Hon. Wasiu Isiaka, Commissioner for Sport Development, made this remark when he took some media men round the renovated sporting facilities across the State, assuring the guests that the Games would be declared as “best of the best.
He further stated that, with meticulous preparations hitting top gear for the fast approaching 22nd National Sports Festival, tagged Gateway Games 2024, the Ogun State Government was confident that the festival would set a new standard for its future hosting, explaining that, the festival, scheduled to take place from May 16 to 30, was expected to bring together top athletes, officials, and sports enthusiasts from across the country.
Hon. Isiaka reiterated government’s desire to leverage on sports to take social vices, drug abuse off the minds of the teeming youths, explaining that the current administration was looking at the possibility of establishing a sporting system, as a good foundation was being laid through the hosting of the National Sport Festival.
The Commissioner submitted that the festival was not just a sporting event, but an opportunity to foster youth engagement, drive sports development, and combat social vices, emphasising that the games’ broader goals extend beyond the competition itself, aiming to create a lasting impact on the s State’s sports landscape.
“We want to use sports as a tool for social change. We believe that by investing in sports, we can empower young people and help them reach their full potential. We’re not just hosting a tournament; we’re building a legacy. We are fully prepared. The facilities speak for themselves. We are working around the clock to ensure every necessary structure is in place. By the time the games begin, Ogun State will be more than ready”, he said.
