The Deputy Governor of Edo State, Rt. Hon. Dennis Idahosa, on Wednesday, received the Torch of Unity for the 22nd National Sports Festival (NSF) at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City on behalf of Governor Monday Okpebholo.
The symbolic handover began with torchbearers and athletes presenting the torch to the Executive Chairman of the Edo State Sports Commission, Desmond Enabulele. It was then handed over to a representative of the National Sports Commission(NSC) before finally reaching the Governor.
In his remarks, the Deputy Governor expressed gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for promoting national unity through sports.
“We thank President Tinubu for using sports as a unifying factor to bring Nigerian youths together,” he said.
He reaffirmed the state’s commitment to supporting sports development.
“The Edo State Government will provide the necessary support to the Sports Commission to ensure Team Edo emerges overall winners at the festival,” Idahosa added.
Hon. Enabulele, reiterated Governor Okpebholo’s commitment to youth empowerment through sports and called on Nigerian youths to embrace the opportunities the festival offers for peaceful coexistence and personal growth. He also stressed that only top-performing grassroots athletes would be selected to represent Edo State at the festival.
In her response, Head of the National Sports Commission delegation, Mrs. Ikana Mbora, said, “the torch has moved to all the states in North-Central, North-East, North-West, South-East and now in the South-South Zone. The torch movement begun from Cross River to Bayelsa to Delta and now in Benin City to mark the end of this phase and thereafter, head to Ondo state.”
President Tinubu officially flagged off the Torch of Unity relay in March 2025 at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, signaling the start of the 22nd National Sports Festival, tagged Gateway 2025.
The festival is expected to host around 7,000 athletes, 1,500 coaches and officials across various sporting venues in Abeokuta, Ogun State, from May 16 to 30, 2025.
