Delta Wins National Sports Festival Again As Presidency, Prominent Nigerians Commend Abiodun for Successful Games Hosting 

By: Israel Adeleke, Olufemi Orunsola 

The defending champions of the National Sports Festival, Team Delta, on Thursday, has emerged overall winner of the 22nd edition of the festival in Ogun, securing 122 gold, 96 silver and 105 bronze medals, marking the fifth time the state will be winning the festival. 

OPEN TELEVISION NAIJA (OTN) News reports that the Presidency, represented by Senate President, Godswill Akpabio led the roll call of prominent Nigerians who graced the colourful closing ceremony, commending the host governor for the successful hosting of the Games.

OTN News further reports that Team Delta won a total of 337 medals to secure the topmost spot in the final medals table at the conclusion of the festival.

Team Ogun, the host of the festival, came second, winning 90 gold, 64 silver and 78 bronze medals, totalling 238 while Bayelsa finished third with 92 gold, 62 silver and 70 bronze medals, amounting to 228 overall.

Speaking at the closing ceremony on Thursday, Senate President Godswill Akpabio commended Ogun State Governor Prince Dapo Abiodun for the quantum of passion and commitment put into floating the unifying festival, noting that, Ogun State has made Nigeria proud on all fronts in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu.

Also, speaking at the ceremony, former Nigerian President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo joined the presidency to celebrate the host Governor, Dapo Abiodun, whose 65th Birthday falls on the day of the closing ceremony of the festival on May 29.

Meanwhile, Rivers maintained fourth place with 74 gold, 56 silver and 63 bronze medals, giving them a total of 193 while Edo State finished in fifth position, having won 63 gold, 96 silver and 115 bronze medals, totalling 274 overall.

OTN News obserces that one significant moment at the closing ceremony was the cutting of a massive 65th birthday cake for the host Governor, styled  in the shape of the newly refurbished Gateway Stadium with Ogun state official colours of the state. 

Other highpoints of the colourful closing ceremony of the Gateway Games 2024 was the electric performance by Nigerian Afro star Wande Coal and Ogun-state born legendary Fuji music star, King Wasiu Ayinde popularly known as K1 De Ultimate, who took turns to throw the massive crowd of spectators with their music and stage crafts.

In all, the final medals table revealed that 2,052 medals were shared among Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).