Asa,Davido,World Champions, Presidency, Obasanjo,Osoba, Others Converge on Abeokuta As Dapo Abiodun Stole Hearts With Colourful NSF Grand Opening Ceremony

By: Olufemi Orunsola 

From the first drumbeat to the final dance step, Ogun State poured its heart into staging an unforgettable opening ceremony for the National Sports Festival code named Gateway Games 2024, stealing the hearts of many, who have concluded that Ogun has hosted the best ever NSF in the history of the country.

OPEN TELEVISION NAIJA (OTN) News reports that Ogun state Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun made good his promise to stage the best ever National Sports Festival with the glamorous and immensely electrifying grand opening ceremony heralding the commencement of the Gateway Games on Sunday.

OTN News further reports that the grand opening ceremony, which took place at the newly refurbished MKO Abiola Sports Complex, Kuto, Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital commanded the presence of Nigeria's Presidency represented by Vice President, Kashim Shettima, accompanied by Finance Minister, Wale Edun, distinguished Members of the National Assembly, former Nigerian President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, forner Ogun Governor, Chief Plusegun Osoba and a retinue of Nigeria's Best in the world of Sports, Entertainment and Culture as the opener paraded a cultural acrobatic performance by the Eyo Masquerades.

It was such a sight of grandeur to see the Vice President and other prominent Nigerians present at the Games attired in the traditional branded Kampala Adire fabric custom-made to the official colour of the host state.

Another high point of the grand opener event was the breathtaking moment, Ogun-born global artiste Bukola Elemide, popularly known as Asa, mounted the stage, rocking the frenzied crowd with her popular soul lifting song track, Jailer.

The lighting of the cauldron by another Ogun-born world's best boxing heavy weight champion, Anthony Joshua, was another rapturous moment as the Ogun State Governor led the Vice President, Kashim Shettima, who came to represent President Bola Tinubu in the company of Ogun Sports Ambassador for the NSF, Chief Dr. Segun Odegbami, flanked by other world record holders like Falilat Ogunkoya, Mary Onyali, Tina Iheagwam, among other global Olympic track heroes.

The multi-award winning Ogun State Cultural Troope also took the centre stage, rendering breathtaking acrobatic and kinesthetic performances.

In tandem with the Ogun Governor's pledge to make the Games, not just about sports, but a festival for celebration of arts and cultural heritage, OTN News reports that Nigeria's leading Afro music singer, David Adeleke popularly known as Davido also mounted the stage, rendering many of his popular songs to the admiration of a rapturous crowd of participants and continents from different states with an uncommon stage craft and chemistry that made the moments unforgettable.

Meanwhile, the OTN News crew gathered that the following participating states have arrived at the games village as at the time of filing this report include Oyo state, Edo State, Ekiti state, Delta state, Lagos state; Osun state; Ondo state; Kwara state; Osun state; Bayelsa state; Kano State.

Others are: Nasarrawa state; Borno state; katsina state; Abia state; Akwa ibom state; Enugu state; FCT; River state; Yobe state; Niger state; Zamfara state, and Plateau state.

OTN News crew further observes that the human and vehicular movement within the around Abeokuta metropolis has gathered an unusual momentum as the economic impacts of the Games are already being felt by businesses in the hotels and hospitality sector, while food vendors, restaurants and other businesses in the usually serene and quiet State capital are smiling to the banks as a result of increased patronage.

The Commissioner for Sports Development in Ogun State, Honourable Wasiu Isiaka who was seen virtually everywhere at the Sports Complex to ensure things go as planned has expressed deep satisfaction with the standard of hosting of the National Sports Festival, beginning with the grand opening ceremony brought to bear under his principal, Prince Dapo Abiodun, assuring that morning shows the day.