The Torch of Unity for the 22nd edition of the National Sports Festival (NSF), landed in Benin City, capital of Edo State.
The sports fiesta holds in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, between May 16 and 30, 2025.
The State Deputy Governor, Dennis Idahosa, received the Torch on behalf of Governor Monday Okpebholo.
He received the symbolic Tourch from the team lead of the National Sports Commission delegation, Mbora Ikana, at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, in Benin.
According to a statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Deputy Governor, Idahosa commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for transforming the country’s sports sector, uniting the people, and rekindling hopes amongst the Nigerian youths.
He further expressed optimism on the outcome of the National Sports Festival, noting that with the magnitude of investment and commitment by the Governor Monday Okpebholo-led administration in revamping the sports sector of the State, he was sure that the Edo team would make the people proud.
“I want to thank the President, His Excellency, President Ahmed Bola Tinubu, for using sports to bring all the youths of Edo State and across the country together.
“For us in Edo, we are ready to support the Edo State Sports Commission to win medals and we are very sure that they are going to come home top position,” Idahosa said.
Also speaking, the Chairman of Edo State Sports Commission, Desmond Amadin Enabulele, commended the laudable impact of Governor Okpebholo in equipping and transforming the sports sector of the State, while expressing the state’s preparedness to emerge victorious in the forthcoming National Sports Festival.
“We would all be gathering in Ogun State from the 16th to the 30th of May, 2025. As you know, Edo State is known for sports. When you say Edo State, you say Sports.
“The last sports festival we came out third, but this time around, the Governor, distinguished Senator Monday Okpebholo, has given us the support that we need. So, this time around, we know that Edo State is going to come out top there,” Amadin asserted.
Earlier in her remarks, the team lead for the National Sports Festival Torch, Mbora Ikana, who spoke on behalf of the National Sports Commission, commended the President for his commitment to sports development in the country.
He expressed optimism on the success of the forthcoming National Sports Festival and its impact in nurturing young talents amongst our youths in the State and country at large.
“On behalf of the National Sports Commission that was mandated by the President, Ahmed Tinubu, to take the torch round a the 36 States, including Abuja.
“We are in Edo State today, and the essence of the torch is to invite the State to the Festival and to create awareness that sport is the only unifying platform in our country and we are are supposed to harness the talents of our youths through sports,” Ikana said.
