President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has urged athletes to compete with integrity and fairness at the 2024 National Sports Festival, reports Completesports.com.
Tinubu, who was represented at the opening ceremony of the 22nd edition of the games at the MKO Abiola Sports Arena on Sunday night by vice president Kashim Shettima said sports remains one of the forces for national cohesion.
“We want it to thrive, autonomous, innovative, and focussed because we recognised it critical role in making the nation healthier, stronger and more united Nigeria,” he declared.
“Indeed, nothing has brought the nation together like sport, whether on the pitch, in the court, or on the track. I urge you all to compete with fairness and integrity.”
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“We are reminded daily that we’re not strangers to one another, we are compatriots drawn from different roots but drinking from the same well of national pride.”
The festival is believed to have attracted over 10,000 athletes will run from May 16 to May 30, 2025.
The Invited Junior Athletes , IJA , dominated the opening day of the festival.
IJA won two gold, one silver and one bronze in the 45kg women’s weightlifting event.
Chijoke won two gold medals,
while Tekumbur claimed bronze.
By Adeboye Amosu in Abeokuta
