The 2018 National Sports Festival Friday kicked – off at the National Stadium with no fewer than 11, 000 athletes drawn from the 36 states and Federal Capital Territory(FCT).
Christened Abuja 2018, the tournament started with the handover of the Festival Torch to the FCT Minister, Muhammad Bello for the host city in a colourful event at the Abuja City gate.
Bello while welcoming the participants and officials described the games as one of the three promoters of national unity whose ideals are in convergence with the vision of the FCT as a symbol of national unity, oneness and indeed a home to every Nigerian.
He announced that the FCT is being represented in the games by over 470 athletes who would be competing in 27 events, saying the restoration of the game after 6 years in limbo, bears eloquent testimony to the commitment of the Change Agenda of the President Muhammadu Buhari to youth development.
the President is very dedicated to providing a platform where the talents of the youths and that capacities of all Nigerians would be harnessed.
The Minister who emphasized that the President is very dedicated to providing a platform where the talents of the youths and that capacities of all Nigerians would be harnessed, said the FCT Administration in the same vein has invested heavily on infrastructure and public transportation, making it possible for athletes to move from one sports arena to another without encountering undue traffic gridlock.
Bello added that the full the complement of the railway coaches would be arriving in a few weeks time to make the already completed stations operational, including the stadium station just within a walking distance from the national stadium.
He enjoined participants at the event and the officials to imbibe the spirit of fair play in all the proceedings, noting that what matters at the end of the day is the bonds of friendship across the regions and the platform for cooperation and collaboration which in the end would strengthen national unity.
Bello also called on private sector investors, sports agencies and organized private sector to invest in Abuja, assuring that the FCT Administration is working to build a capital city that would showcase Nigeria to the world and make Abuja the capital city of sports in Africa.
He pointed out that features as centrality, good weather and natural/manmade drainage systems, all favour Abuja as the next best destination for sporting activities, including the best set of sports facilities in the country and an assortment of hotels and hospitality outfits that can take in a huge number of athletes and visitors for any global event.
In a keynote address, Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Solomon Dalung, congratulated all the states for their support and commitment to the success of the National Festival through sending strong delegations.
Dalung noted that the games were being revived by the present administration because it appreciates the role of sports as a unifying factor in the country.
James Kwen, Abuja
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