Team Delta has been officially declared the overall winner of the 22nd National Sports Festival (NSF), also known as the Gateway Games 2024, hosted in Ogun State. The festival concluded with Delta securing a commanding lead on the medals table, winning 122 gold, 96 silver, and 105 bronze medals, totaling 323 medals. This victory marks Delta’s ninth NSF championship and their fifth consecutive title, reaffirming their status as Nigeria’s top sporting powerhouse.
Bayelsa State finished second with 92 gold, 62 silver, and 70 bronze medals (224 total), while host Ogun State placed third with 90 gold, 64 silver, and 78 bronze medals (232 total). Rivers and Edo States rounded out the top five with 193 and 274 total medals respectively.
The 11-day festival featured over 10,000 athletes competing across 30 sports disciplines at the Moshood Abiola Stadium in Abeokuta. Highlights included a dazzling opening ceremony performance by musician Davido and Ogun State’s men’s football team clinching gold.
The Executive Chairman of the Delta State Sports Commission, Hon. Onoriode Oborevwori, dedicated the triumph to Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, crediting the state’s “MORE Agenda” policy for youth empowerment and sports development as key to their success. Oborevwori praised the athletes, coaches, and technical staff for their discipline and determination, emphasizing that the win symbolizes not just medals but hope and opportunity for Delta’s youth.
The final official medal standings will be released by the festival’s Main Organising Committee, but Delta’s lead was unassailable by the closing ceremony, cementing their legacy as Nigeria’s premier sports state.
Summary of Top Medal Counts:
| State | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delta | 122 | 96 | 105 | 323 |
| Bayelsa | 92 | 62 | 70 | 224 |
| Ogun | 90 | 64 | 78 | 232 |
| Rivers | 74 | 56 | 63 | 193 |
| Edo | 63 | 96 | 115 | 274 |