Gateway Games 2025: Benue State missing at National Sports Festival opening ceremony

Benue State was conspicuously absent at the opening ceremony of the ongoing National Sports Festival, tagged Gateway Games 2025, currently taking place in Ogun State.

The event, which officially kicked off on May 18 and is scheduled to run through May 30, saw contingents from across the country marching in during the ceremonial parade, except for Benue State, which had no representation on the field.

According to checks, Benue remained the only state without a registered contingent at this year’s edition of the games as of the time of the opening ceremony.

While efforts by this reporter to reach the Benue State Commissioner for Youths and Sports, Hon. Terkimbi Ikyange, for comments on the situation proved futile as calls and messages went unanswered at the time of filing this report, a representative from the state’s wrestling team has offered some clarity.

Emmanuel Agye, Secretary of the Benue Wrestling Association, said, “We are here already. Benue is here.

“We arrived late due to some hurdles on the way, but we are present now and ready to participate.”

Gateway Games 2025: Benue State missing at National Sports Festival opening ceremony