Ogun State has been announced as the host of the 2024 National Sports Festival, BSNSports.com.ng can report.
Minister of Sports, Sunday Dare, on Saturday at the closing ceremony of the 21st National Sports Festival in Asaba announced the South West state as host.
Meanwhile, Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun had declared the readiness of the state to host a hitch free championship in 2024.
Governor Abiodun made the declaration in his office, Abeokuta, two weeks ago, when he played host to the 22nd NSF evaluation committee.
The governor in a statement issued by his chief press secretary, Kunle Somorin, expressed his conviction that no other state can defeat Ogun in its plans to host the festival after almost 16 years it hosted it.
Abiodun, while noting that Ogun is one of the most peaceful states in the country, urged the committee to make security, peaceful atmosphere and the well-being of the athletes the most important considerations above others.
“Our state is the Gateway State and I do not think that any other state can compete and defeat us in the bidding for this National Sports Festival.
“I assure you that we will be ready to host this Sports Festival. I want to thank the Minister of Sports and Youth Development, Mr Sunday Dare. And I have told him, we are hosting this festival, we are ready for it.
“I believe in a festival like this, one of your topmost considerations should be a venue where you can guarantee the safety of the athletes and also the visitors. I think that consideration ranks higher than any other consideration, it has to be number one and once you take that on your checklist, you can begin to look at other areas.
“Ogun State is one of the most peaceful states in the country and I think that is a very serious consideration and we will continue to do everything to sustain that role as one of the most peaceful states in the country,” Governor Abiodun said.
Meanwhile, Oyo State has been picked as standby if Ogun fails to meet up with the requirements.
