The Director General of the National Sports Commission, Bukola Olopade, has confirmed that top Nigerian music stars David Adeleke (Davido) and Bukola Elemide (Asa) will perform at the opening ceremony of the 22nd National Sports Festival in Abeokuta, Ogun State, on Sunday.
The event is scheduled to take place at 5 p.m. at the MKO Abiola Stadium.
Olopade, who also serves as Chairman of the Main Organising Committee, said the festival’s opening ceremony will be declared open by Vice President Kashim Shettima.
“This is our own Olympics, and from start to finish, the festival must reflect that global standard — both in competition and organisation,” he stated in a press release signed by his Special Adviser on Media, Kola Daniel.
“The National Sports Commission, in collaboration with the Ogun State Government, has put together a world-class event for the opening ceremony.
“I’ve spent the past two years assuring everyone that Ogun State would host the best edition of this festival. Some doubted it, but what you’re witnessing today — from the stunning aesthetics to the seamless organisation — proves otherwise.
“From the start of the ceremony to the actual competitions, everything will reflect excellence. For the first time ever, the festival’s first two days have run smoothly without complaints over accommodation or feeding. That alone makes me very proud.”
Olopade also hinted at the performances planned for the evening: “I won’t reveal all the details, but I can tell you Asa will open the show, and Davido will close it. What happens in between? You’ll have to stay tuned. Nigerians are about to witness an unforgettable opening ceremony.”
The festival officially kicked off on Friday with the arrival of participating states, followed by early events in weightlifting and Kung Fu, ahead of Sunday’s grand opening.
This marks the second time Ogun State is hosting the National Sports Festival, the first being in 2006.
