By Joshua Tosin Ogunsakin 
The Ogun State Government has stated that preparations are in top gear for the 2024 National Sports Festival Games to be hosted by the state in January 2025.
The state governor, Dapo Abiodun, on Friday, affirmed his administration’s commitment to providing state-of-the-art facilities for the event, after inspecting the ongoing renovation at the MKO Abiola Stadium, Kuto, and the Ijeja Sports Centre, in Abeokuta, the state capital.
Abiodun said, “This stadium is probably anywhere between 30 and 35 years old since it was constructed, and this is the first time it is witnessing such a level of reconstruction. We are doing it with a sense of commitment and dedication, the way we are committing to and implementing all other projects across the state.
“It is in line with our Ogun standard, and I do not doubt that by the time the whole reconstruction is completed, this stadium will rank as one of the best in the country and will remain one of our legacies.”
Abiodun expressed satisfaction with the level of work done so far and the competence of the contractors handling the projects.
“I have come here today to see for myself the level of progress being made in the reconstruction work ahead of the Gateway Games 2025, which will start on January 12, 2025.
“I want to say that I’m impressed with the level of activities that I have seen at the stadium. I have been to the site where the Olympic-size swimming pool is being constructed, as well as the tennis court and the handball court. Now, I’m here at the main bowl where the pitch is being removed, the surface is being prepared in readiness for concrete work, and eventually the turf,” the governor said, among others.
Abiodun, who also visited the Alake Sports Centre in the Ijeja part of the state, regretted that the centre had been neglected for long but expressed the commitment of his administration to put it in good shape for the successful hosting of the games.
The games will start on January 12 and end on January 26, 2025.