A shower of accolades has gone out from the director-general of Nigeria’s National Sports Commission (NSC), Honourable Bukola Olopade to Ogun State governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun and top officials in his government.
Sports247 reports that Olopade specifically showered encomiums on the governor for ensuring that the state was ready to host the 22nd National Sports Festival next month.
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Also mentioned by the NSC top shot were Ogun State’s commissioner for sports, Honourable Wasiu Isiaka and members of the local organising committee (LOC) for Gateway Games 2024, who Olopade praised for putting everything in place for the festival.
Although the festival was on Thursday shifted from its initial January date to now begin on May 16th, Olopade clarified that it was not due to lack of readiness by the hosts, but because of issues in restructuring of the NSC.
He added that seeing all requirements for the festival had already been put in place by the LOC made him proud to be a native of The Gateway State.
Olopade declared, “As an indigene of Ogun State, I want to thank our governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun COF. I also want to thank Honourable Wasiu Isiaka and the entire LOC team for a job well done so far.
“A lot of technical directors that came into Ogun State, a lot of directors of sports from other states and a lot of secretaries of the federations (were amazed).”
Olopade went on to provide details of some requirements that had already been put in place for the festival, which he said left many mouths agape during the joint technical meeting that held this week in Abeokuta.
The D.G. added, “They were shocked when they saw what we had planned at Babcock University for accommodation of athletes. They were shocked in a good way with what they saw at Remo Stadium.
“They were even fascinated with all the new legacy facilities that are being put together by the Ogun State government.”
Olopade concluded with emphatic words of praise to the government of Ogun State and singled out the current commissioner of sports for putting in place things that he believes will stand as legacies for many years to come.
“We can only but show gratitude to Governor Dapo Abiodun COF and his team (for a job well done). I am extremely proud as a former commissioner of sports in this state.
(I am happy) to see a new commissioner for sports that has done everything that I did and he is creating new legacies. I am extremely proud to be associated with him,” said Olopade.
He rounded-off with an affirmation that Gateway Games 2024 – which will now run from May 16 to 30, 2025 – will be truly developmental in focus, as many junior athletes (IJA) will be specially invited to participate.
, Honourable Bukola Olopade){kind=link}