NSC boss highlights economic gains of Gateway Games 2024
The Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Mallam Shehu Dikko, has highlighted the numerous economic benefits derived from the ongoing National Sports Festival tagged Gateway 2024.
Dikko made this disclosure on Sunday during a press conference at the Local Organizing Committee (LOC) office in Abeokuta. He stated that hoteliers, transporters, food vendors, and other service providers were making significant gains from the festival.
“There are so many economic gains from the festival. People are making money from hotel accommodation; transporters, food vendors, and others are also benefiting. Many youths have been positively engaged. There has been huge success in that aspect, and the government appreciates it because many people are being economically empowered,” he said.
“Remember, after the sports festival, there will be the WAFU Games, the Athletics Championship, and other events. Many people will continue to benefit from those competitions. The Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, told me that adire is enjoying massive sales. The economic success is part of what we are achieving,” he added.
Mallam Dikko also emphasized the commission’s commitment to eliminating doping in sports. “That is why we take anti-doping very seriously. We are not going to relax until we achieve drug-free participation in sports.”
Speaking on the Invited Junior Athletes (IJA), Dikko described the program as a vision for building the next generation of athletes. “They are our future athletes. We have shortlisted some from the sports festival to join others already identified.
“The IJA were not picked randomly; they were discovered during the festival and already have their records. We have engaged some partners to help us develop a system for uploading and managing these records,” he explained.
He further noted, “We are not just watching the sports—we are also improving the facilities. That’s why we are focused on maintaining high standards. We have put a system in place, and we are not going to lower the standards already set.”
Mallam Dikko concluded by revealing that the NSC is in touch with the next host, Enugu State, and will soon visit to inspect facilities. He disclosed that September 2026 has been fixed for the next edition of the festival.
