Ogun State Sports Commissioner, Oludare Kehinde says the 2024 National Sports Festival in Ogun State will surpass the just-concluded 2022 edition of the event in Delta State.

Kehinde stated this on Saturday, while speaking with journalists at the closing ceremony of the festival in Asaba, after sports minister Sunday Dare announced that the 22nd NSF would be hosted by Ogun.

“Let me assure you that we will surpass what you have seen here (Asaba). Don’t forget that the sports ministry came to Ogun State for an assessment and the Governor assured them that we will do anything possible to put everything in place before they return.

“We have done it in the past and we have the facilities in Ogun, the environment is also conducive and when it comes to issues of security, I think we are okay. I assure you that we shall do anything possible to create that hospitable environment,” Kehinde said.

The commissioner assured journalists that Ogun had learnt from their past experience hosting the festival, adding that it would count in 2024.

“Well, I will just assure you that we have put the technical know-how in place and we have the experience. We also have a technical committee in place. By the time you see the position of the local organising committee, I’m sure you will know that we have the ability and we are capable of hosting the NSF in our state.

“My message to other states is that they should rest assured that we will create a hospitable environment, we will make it possible so that when they have the opportunity to come to Ogun, they will,” Kehinde said.

Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari has saluted the government and people of the State for hosting the best National Sports Festival in recent times as well as for the high standard facilities provided for the Games.

He gave commendation while declaring the 21st National Sports Festival, tagged ‘Delta 2022” closed at the weekend.

Host and defending champion Team Delta emerged as overall winner of the competition with 649 medals comprising 320 gold, 200 silver and 120 bronze. Team Bayelsa clinched the second position with 337 medals of 132 gold, 115 silver and90 bronze with Team Edo finishing third with 339 medals of 78 gold, 94 silver and 167 bronze.

President Buhari who was represented by the minister of youth and sports development, Mr Sunday Dare,

He congratulated the Teams for their outstanding performance at the event and was quick to add that, “As sportsmen and women, we have been trained to accept defeat at a Sports event as a challenge to do better next time, therefore we are all winners. With that, I congratulate all the Athletes, Coaches, Technical and other Officials for making the Festival a memorable one.”

“I salute the government and people of Delta State for the successful organization of the best National Sports Festival. I commend His Excellency, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, and his team for the high standard of facilities provided for the Festival. I urge you to be creative in putting the facilities to good use that can generate revenue for the coffers of the state government”.

“Sports has over the years proven to be an enabler for economic activities in the host state and community, it has also fast-tracked the provision of infrastructure and led to the development of new cities and therefore urged all states of the Federation and the FCT to continue to partner the federal government in its sports development efforts so that together as a nation, we can attain our sports development vision,” President Buhari said.

He congratulated the government and people of the Ogun State for emerging the preferred State and wished them the best of luck in the organization of the 22nd Edition of the Sports Festival.