In a strong call for accuracy and accountability, Director General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Hon. Bukola Olopade, has cautioned journalists and state officials against the circulation of unofficial medals tables at the ongoing 22nd National Sports Festival.
Speaking passionately during Monday’s technical meeting with state delegates, Olopade emphasized that only the official National Sports Festival app should be relied upon for real-time medal updates. He noted with concern the rising trend of false and premature medals tables being posted online and in the media.
“I told every delegate to stop putting out their own medals table. I also appealed to journalists to stop writing stories based on unofficial numbers,” Olopade stated. “If you choose to publish your own version, you’re on your own. There’s no ‘breaking news’ in spreading inaccurate data – this is not JAMB!”
For the first time in the festival’s 20+ year history, organizers have introduced a centralized real-time digital system to track and share results. Olopade hailed this development as a major step toward transparency and professionalism in Nigerian sports reporting.
“Let us be guided,” he added. “This is innovation at work. We need to change the culture of misinformation. No state should be waking up to see themselves wrongly credited with 21 gold medals when events are still ongoing. That era is gone.”
Meanwhile, as at the close of Day 3, Bayelsa State leads the official medals table with 6 gold, 2 silver, and 1 bronze – a strong early showing. Oyo State follows closely with 4 golds, 1 silver, and 1 bronze, while Lagos State sits in third with 3 gold, 4 silver, and 3 bronze medals.
Other notable standings include:
- Cross River: 3 gold (4th position)
- Rivers State: 2 gold, 3 silver, 1 bronze (5th position)
- Invited Junior Athletes (IJA): 2 gold, 1 silver, 1 bronze (6th position)
- Delta State, the defending champions, find themselves in 7th with 1 gold, 1 silver, and 1 bronze.
A total of 71 medals have been awarded so far: 23 gold, 23 silver, and 25 bronze. With many more events scheduled, the race is far from over, and fans are encouraged to track results only via the official National Sports Festival platform.
“Let’s make use of innovation,” Olopade concluded. “Together, we can build a culture of truth and professionalism in Nigerian sports.”
Stay official. Download the National Sports Festival app today.
, Hon. Bukola Olopade,){kind=link}