The Ogun State Government has officially unveiled Premium Trust Bank as the lead sponsor and official bank of the 22nd National Sports Festival (NSF), tagged “Gateway Games 2024,” scheduled to take place in May.
The unveiling ceremony was held on Tuesday, at the Olusegun Osoba Press Center, Oke Mosan, Abeokuta had in attendance top government officials, sports stakeholders, and executives of Premium Trust Bank.
Speaking on behalf of the Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Mr. Tokunbo Talabi, provided insight into the selection process of the festival’s lead sponsor.
His words“In choosing a sponsor, it is not just about the financial contribution but also about passion for sports development.
"We evaluated the pedigree of other organizations, and Premium Trust Bank stood out, ticking all the boxes,” Talabi stated.
He emphasized that Ogun State has a long-standing commitment to sports excellence, evident in its past investments in athletes, including world champion Tobi Amusan, boxing star Anthony Joshua, and chess master Tunde Onakoya, all of whom will be ambassadors for the festival.
Talabi also highlighted the government’s extensive efforts in revamping sports infrastructure, including stadium renovations and the development of new track and field facilities, all in preparation for the festival.
In his good will message, the Ogun State Commissioner for Sports, Hon. Wasiu Isiaka, expressed appreciation to Premium Trust Bank for its commitment to sports development in Nigeria.
His words “This partnership goes beyond just hosting the festival; we are working towards building a vibrant sports industry in Ogun State. Our vision is to create an ecosystem where talent flourishes and opportunities abound for athletes to succeed,” Isiaka stated.
He assured that the state government, under the leadership of Governor Dapo Abiodun, is committed to delivering one of the best National Sports Festivals in history, one that will not only celebrate athletic excellence but also drive economic and community development.
Meanwhile, the Executive Director of Premium Trust Bank, Mr. Shina Atilola, described the collaboration as a milestone in corporate sponsorship of Nigerian sports.
Atilola assured that the financial institution is not only sponsoring the biennial sports fiesta but will also nurture discovered athletes to stardom through sponsorship.
He noted that the bank will fully utilize the world-class sporting facilities provided by the state government as discovering talent hub to groom talented athletes international stardom.
The event was attended by notable dignitaries, including Chief of Staff to the NSC Director General, Oluwaseyi Johnson; Chairman of the Opening and Closing Ceremonies LOC, Mrs. Modele Sharafa; NSC Director of Press, Mrs. Kehinde Ajayi; and Assistant Director at the National Sports Festival Department, Mr. Oladipupo Idowu, among others.
