Delta State has won the National Sports Festival for the fifth consecutive time. The victory was announced by Bukola Olopade, chairperson of the Main Organising Committee.
The announcement took place during the closing ceremony in Abeokuta, Ogun State. Although the final medal tally is pending due to ongoing Table Tennis events, Delta’s lead is undisputed.
The state had secured 122 gold, 96 silver, and 105 bronze medals, totalling 323.
Delta’s dominance in the National Sports Festival reflects years of investment. Athlete training, sports development, and youth empowerment programs have been prioritised. These efforts have created a strong foundation for consistent success. As a result of this, no other state challenged Delta’s position at the top of the medal table.
However, in a surprising turn, Ogun State surged ahead of Bayelsa to claim second place. The host state achieved this after earning two additional gold medals and one silver medal in para table tennis.
As a result, their total count rose to 92 gold, 64 silver, and 78 bronze medals, making 232 overall. Bayelsa followed closely with 91 gold, 61 silver, and 70 bronze medals, totalling 222.
The final official medal table had not been released at the time of reporting. Therefore, the competition for second place kept fans engaged and hopeful.
Meanwhile, as the National Sports Festival continues to be a platform for fierce but friendly rivalry, many States push hard to improve their rankings and showcase their athletes’ talents.
Additionally, Gateway Games 2024 highlighted progress in gender inclusion. The Nigeria Olympic Committee’s Women Commission recognised Anambra, Kogi, and the Invited Junior Athletes team.
These groups received special trophies for promoting equal participation of women in their teams. Such initiatives help foster diversity and fairness in sports.
In addition, organisers pledged to continue advancing gender inclusion at future National Sports Festivals. The commitment is to ensure the event celebrates unity, diversity, and national pride. These values remain central to the festival’s mission, which promotes respect and opportunity across Nigeria’s diverse population.
At this year’s event, the top five states in the medal standings announced are: Delta with 122 gold, 96 silver, and 105 bronze medals, totalling 323. Ogun came second with 92 gold, 64 silver, and 78 bronze medals, totalling 232. Bayelsa ranked third with 91 gold, 61 silver, and 70 bronze medals, for a total of 222. Edo took fourth place with 63 gold, 96 silver, and 114 bronze medals, totalling 273. Rivers rounded out the top five with 74 gold, 56 silver, and 62 bronze medals, totalling 192.
As the festival closed, attention turned to Enugu State. The South-Eastern State will host the next National Sports Festival. Organisers will aim to build on the successes and lessons learned from the 2024 Gateway Games.
Therefore, Preparations for the upcoming event have already begun in earnest. The next festival promises to be another exciting chapter in Nigeria’s sporting calendar.
Meanwhile in another news, Nigeria Flying Eagles will face Colombia, Saudi Arabia, and Norway in the group stage of this year’s edition of FIFA U-20 World Cup.
