By Femi Atolagbe

The 22nd National Sports Festival, tagged Gateway Games 2024, has set a new record for private sector involvement in the history of the event, according to the Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Shehu Dikko.

Dikko made this known during a world press conference in Abeokuta, where he reviewed the successes recorded so far at the ongoing festival, which began on May 16 and will run through May 30.

He stated that the level of private sector participation in this year’s festival has surpassed that of previous editions, marking a significant milestone in the commercialisation and development of sports in Nigeria.

“This 22nd National Sports Festival, tagged Gateway Games, is headlined by Premium Trust Bank,” Dikko noted. “I’m sure we have all seen the number of partners and sponsors we now have. By the time the full financial reports are released, the revenue figures will speak volumes.”

The NSC chairman highlighted that the event has become a benchmark for how sports can attract serious investment, particularly through strategic brand positioning and media visibility.

“At the beginning of the competition, we had some clashes over the positioning of brand logos for visibility. That just shows how much interest the private sector now has in associating with this festival,” he explained.

Dikko also revealed that the NSC plans to implement a fixed calendar for the National Sports Festival, ensuring the biennial event is held consistently to boost sponsor confidence.

“We need to make the festival sustainable by having a regular calendar. Sponsors do not want inconsistencies in dates. A sponsor wants to come in and buy the rights for multiple years as a headline partner,” he said.

Looking ahead, Dikko announced that the next edition of the National Sports Festival will be hosted by Enugu State in 2026. He commended the state government for its enthusiasm and early preparations.

“The plan is to hold the festival towards the end of every year, but Enugu State has indicated its readiness to host the 2026 edition earlier, possibly around September. That tells you how prepared and eager they are,” he added.

The NSC boss further disclosed that bids have already been submitted for the hosting rights of the 2028 edition of the games, a reflection of the growing prestige of the festival.

Gateway Games 2024 features about 10,000 athletes competing in 549 events, with a total of 2,150 medals up for grabs.