Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, has urged the state’s athletes to push for more podium finishes as the 2024 National Sports Festival continues in Abeokuta and other designated venues across the state.
Governor Abiodun gave the charge on Saturday during his visit to several competition centres, where he interacted with athletes and showed support for their efforts. At the Alake Sports Complex in Ijeja, Abeokuta, the governor cheered the state’s table tennis team and commended their commitment.
He was also present at the MKO Abiola Stadium in Abeokuta, where he joined in the celebration of Ogun State’s gold medal win in the mixed 4x400m relay, presenting medals to the victorious team. The quartet, Badmus Gafar, Samson Nathaniel, Tosin Adeleye and Toheebat Jimoh, clinched the gold with an impressive time of 3:20.65 on Friday night.
Speaking to journalists after the medal presentation, Governor Abiodun expressed his satisfaction with the athletes’ performances and the smooth running of the games. In a move to further inspire the competitors, he announced a financial incentive package: N2.5 million for each gold medalist, N1.5 million for silver medalists, and N1 million for those who clinch bronze.
As of the latest update, Team Ogun sits fourth on the medal table with a total of 49 medals, 13 gold, 16 silver, and 20 bronze, demonstrating a strong presence in the festival’s rankings.
The ongoing National Sports Festival, often referred to as Nigeria’s Olympics, features over 10,000 athletes from across the country competing for a total of 2,150 medals in 549 events. This edition also introduced the Invited Junior Athletes category, allowing emerging talents to compete alongside seasoned professionals and showcase their potential on the national stage.
With a total of 626 gold, 626 silver, and 898 bronze medals up for grabs, the festival is shaping up to be one of the most inclusive and competitive editions in its history.
