Ogun State government, on Tuesday, announced its readiness to host the 2024 National Sports Festival (NSF) in fulfilment of an earlier promise made by the Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, as it unveiled leading professionals in Nigeria’s sports sector as Local Organizing Committee (LOC) members.
It would be recalled that the state government, earlier in May, had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Federal Government, through the Federal Ministry of Youth, Sports and Social Development.
During that occasion, Governor Abiodun had told the Federal Government delegation led by the then Minister of Sports, Mr Sunday Dare, that Ogun State, being a state noted for recording many firsts in all spheres of human endeavours, was ready to host a world-class festival in 2024, asserting that the state had capable hands and sponsors ready to support the bid.
To that end, the former minister, while expressing the FG’s acceptance of the proposal, noted that, the choice of Ogun State as the next host of the NSF was due to its culture of sports development, availability of sporting infrastructure and potential to host a befitting festival that would linger for a long time.
Unveiling the 16-man local organizing committee in Abeokuta, the state capital on Tuesday, Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Mr. Tokunbo Talabi, in a statement listed former Commissioner for Youths and Sports in the state, Hon. Bukola Olapade as the chairman of the LOC alongside Mr Tilewa Adebajo, a sports enthusiast, as co-chairman.
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Olopade, the progenitor of the top-rated Access Bank-sponsored Lagos City Marathon, Abeokuta 10km Marathon race, and the Remo Ultra-race, remains topnotch in the world of sports in Nigeria.
Olopade is also renowned to host the best National Sports Festival in the history of Nigerian sports at Gateway Games 2006.
Another member of the Committee, Chief (Mrs.) Falilat Ogunkoya-Omotayo (MON) is regarded as Nigeria’s Queen of Tracks after emerging 1998 Champion at the World Athletics Championship, champion at 400 metres Grand Prix, 200 metres world champion, two-time Olympic medalist and the first female Nigerian to win an individual Olympic medal and holder of the African record in 400 metres till date.
Others include the Secretary-General of the Local Organising Committee (LOC) for the NSF Edo 2020, Dr. Emmanuel Igbinosa, one of Nigeria’s notable sports administrators.
Others are former chairman of the Lagos State Sports Commission (LSSC) and Chairman of the Youth Committee of African Table Tennis Federation, Dr Kweku Tandoh, as well as the renowned sports psychologist and head of the Department of Sports and Exercise Medical Sciences at University of Health and Allied Sciences, Ho, Ghana, Professor Oluwaseun Olanrewaju Omotayo, the Vice Chairman of Ijebu Ode Local Government, Hon. Dare Alebiosu; renowned Sports Journalist Mr. Kunle Solaja, Olusegun Oyende, Mr. Olatunji Onatolu, retired ace broadcaster Mrs. Modele Sharafa Yussuf, Demola Are, Abiodun Jubril Elegbede, Ola Opedimeji Adisa, the former Commissioner for Youth & Sports and the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Youth and Sports.
The statement said that the LOC has been mandated to set up sub-committees, made up of various stakeholders to ensure a hitch-free exercise as well as deliver a sports festival that is second to none in the country.
(Editor: Paul Akhagbemhe)
