ABEOKUTA–The Ogun state government is set to host the 4th Gateway Tertiary Institution Games (GATIG), from Wednesday, 6th to Saturday 9th October, 2021 at the MKO Stadium Kuto Abeokuta.
Briefing newsmen at the conference hall of the MKO Stadium, Tuesday, the Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Hon. (Dr.) Oluwadare Kehinde stated the games is aimed at discovering talents for nurturing in preparation for the national sports festival.
He noted that, “a well-defined sports event like GATIG competition has been designed as a way to ensure that our tertiary school students develop the right mental, rational, emotional, physical, and psychological strength to build a great and eventful life.
“Sports requires memorization, repetition and learning which are set of skill that are directly relevant to tertiary education. Physical vigour and mental acuity are basic rudiments of success.
“We hope to use this GATIG to discover raw talents amongst the students of our tertiary institutions in Ogun State and assist them in horning their skills for national and global prominence”.
The Commissioner regretted that it took precisely 12 years to get the games back on track, saying that the return is a testament to the state government promise to return the state to it’s enviable heritage amongst comity of states in the country.
“Upon my assumption to duty as the Honourable Commissioner for Youth & Sports, I promised our teeming youths that we will return our dear State to its enviable sports heritage amongst the comity of States in Nigeria. You will recall that the 3rd edition of this game was held in 2009 which was precisely 12 years ago.
“I am therefore extremely happy that we are gathering here tonight to flag off activities for the 4th edition holding between Wednesday 6th to Saturday 9th October, 2021.
“This is a testimony that the present administration under His Excellency, Prince (Dr.) Dapo Abiodun MFR is resoute at returning our dear State to his glorious sports heritage.
“The whole idea of Sports is not just to engage in physical activities or fight for a common goal”, he added
Fourteen games which includes, athletics, badminton, football, basketball, judo, scrabble, swimming, table tennis, among other traditional games will be competed for at various centers across the state capital.
