Ogun State Unveils Logo, Song, Mascot For National Sports Festival

The Ogun State Government has unveiled the logo, song, and mascot for the 22nd National Sports Festival, tagged the Gateway Games.

The three were unveiled at a colourful ceremony at the June 12 Cultural Centre in Abeokuta.

The Deputy Governor, Noimot Salako-Oyedele, stood in for the Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun.

The logo is mainly in Ogun State’s theme colours of lemon green and yellow. The unveiling of the logo was immediately followed by that of the theme song of the festival.

The theme song, rich in rhythm and spirit, is titled ‘E’kaabo’, a Yoruba word for ‘welcome’, as Ogun State prepares to welcome thousands of athletes, officials, tourists and VIPs when the 22nd National Sports Festival comes alive on May 16. The theme song was composed by Dr Bayo Adepetun.

The jam-packed hall roared in excitement when the festival’s mascot was eventually unveiled.

The mascot was brought to life by a brilliant team from the Ogun State Ministry of Culture. It reflects the energy, cultural heritage, and aspirations of the Ogun State people.

Named ‘Omo Ogun’, the animated version strolled on the stage and saluted the audience before getting down from the stage to greet the dignitaries.

Meanwhile, the National Sports Commission (NSC) has expressed satisfaction with the level of preparations of Ogun State ahead of the 22nd National Sports Festival.

The Director-General of the NSC, Hon. Bukola Olopade, who doubles as the Chairman of the Main Organising Committee (MOC), made the remarks when he led a joint team of members of both the Local and Main Organising Committees on the inspection of the facilities earmarked for the Games

He said, ”This inspection is not only important because of the aesthetics, but also because technically we have been battling with what we want to do with athletics and the throws in particular. But we have now agreed with the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) that the throws will take place at the MKO stadium because of the kind of Astroturf that has been put there, and that, for me, is the most gratifying thing about this inspection.”

All the facilities billed for the Games are currently wearing a new look, with many of them almost ready for the start of what is expected to be one of the best-organised Games in the history of the National Sports Festival.

Ogun State Unveils Logo, Song, Mascot For National Sports Festival is first published on The Whistler Newspaper