Ministry releases 36 sports for 2024 National Sports Festival
(ABEOKUTA, Made In Africa Sport) – The Federal Ministry of Sports Development has officially released the list of sports for the 2024 National Sports Festival (NSF 2024), dubbed the ‘Gateway Games Ogun 2024’.
The festival, in its 22nd edition, is scheduled to take place from 12 to 25 January 2025 in Ogun State, Nigeria.
In a formal communication addressed to the Directors-General and Directors of Sports of all states, obtained by Made In Africa Sport, the Ministry outlined a total of 29 compulsory sports and seven optional sports, bringing the total to 36 sports that will feature at the showpiece event.
The festival, which is set to attract athletes from across the country, will see participants compete in disciplines ranging from athletics and football to deaf sports and para-athletics.
Among the compulsory sports confirmed for the Games are athletics, basketball, football, weightlifting, wrestling, and para sports such as para powerlifting and para table tennis.
Notably, deaf sports will also feature, with participants competing in a selection of no more than three disciplines. Other key sports include the traditional Nigerian sport Dambe, alongside international favourites like taekwondo, gymnastics, and volleyball (indoor).
In addition to the compulsory list, the Ministry has also approved seven optional sports: shooting, golf, darts, ayo, cricket, karate (all styles), and wheelchair basketball. These sports will allow states to tailor their participation based on available talent and resources.
The full list of compulsory sports for the festival includes:
1. Athletics
2. Aquatics
3. Badminton
4. Basketball
5. Beach Volleyball
6. Boxing
7. Chess
8. Cycling
9. Deaf Sports (limited to three disciplines)
10. Football
11. Gymnastics
12. Handball
13. Hockey
14. Judo
15. Karate
16. Kickboxing
17. Kung-Fu
18. Para Athletics
19. Para Powerlifting
20. Para Table Tennis
21. Scrabble
22. Squash
23. Table Tennis
24. Taekwondo
25. Tennis
26. Traditional Sports (Dambe)
27. Volleyball (Indoor)
28. Weightlifting
29. Wrestling
The optional sports are as follows:
1. Shooting
2. Golf
3. Darts
4. Ayo
5. Cricket
6. Karate (All styles)
7. Wheelchair Basketball
Ogun State gears up for 2024 National Sports Festival with major renovations
As Ogun State prepares to host the 2024 Gateway Games, the state government has commenced reconstruction and renovation works on two major sporting complexes: the MKO Abiola International Stadium and the Alake Sports Centre, Ijeja, Abeokuta.
Following an inspection of the facilities, Ogun State Commissioner for Sports Development, Hon. Wasiu Isiaka, assured the public that the ongoing renovation works would be completed on schedule. The facilities will be tested ahead of the festival, which will bring together top athletes from across Nigeria.
Key improvements include the scraping of the main stadium pitch, the removal of tartan tracks, and upgrades to the roofing of the indoor hall at the Alake Sports Centre. The VIP section of the MKO Abiola Stadium is also set for expansion, while new facilities, including an Olympic-sized swimming pool, tennis courts, and handball courts, are under construction.
Hon. Isiaka emphasised the Ogun State Government’s commitment to not only developing youth and sports programmes but also creating platforms to discover and nurture young athletes. He noted that the festival would serve as a launchpad for the next generation of talent and reinforce the state’s reputation for producing elite athletes.
The commissioner called on corporate organisations and private individuals to partner with the government in making the festival a success, stating that the event presents an opportunity for the state to showcase its talent, potential, and hospitality. He reiterated that the state’s sports facilities would be of top international standards, capable of hosting future national and international events.
