
Davido, Asa to Headline National Sports Festival Opening Ceremony in Abeokuta
Two of Nigeria’s biggest music icons, Davido and Asa, will perform at the grand opening of the 22nd National Sports Festival on Sunday, May 18, in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
The Director General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Bukola Olopade, confirmed the artists’ participation, emphasizing that the festival aims to deliver a world-class experience. The ceremony will be held at 5PM at the MKO Abiola Stadium and will be officially declared open by Vice President Kashim Shettima.
“This is our own Olympics,” Olopade said in a statement released by his media adviser, Kola Daniel. “We are committed to delivering a globally styled event, both in terms of competition and presentation.”
Olopade revealed that Asa will open the show with a soulful performance, while Davido will close the ceremony with his signature energy and chart-topping hits. “What happens in between, I will not reveal,” he teased. “But I can assure Nigerians that they are about to witness an opening ceremony like never before.”
The 22nd edition of the festival marks Ogun State’s second time hosting the national multi-sport event—the first being in 2006. The games officially began on Friday with the arrival of state contingents and early competitions in weightlifting and Kung Fu.
Olopade also praised the seamless organization so far. “For the first time, we’ve had two days with no issues around accommodation or feeding. That alone is a huge milestone.”
He reiterated that the Ogun State Government, in partnership with the NSC, is committed to making the 2025 edition the most memorable in the event’s history.