Governor Agbu Kefas of Taraba State has charged the state's contingent to the upcoming National Sports Festival in Ogun State to be good ambassadors and strive for excellence during the competition.

The governor made this call on Thursday during a farewell ceremony held at the Jolly Nyame Stadium in Jalingo, where he addressed the athletes ahead of their departure for the Gateway Games scheduled to run from May 16 to 30, 2025.

While encouraging the team to bring back medals, Dr. Kefas announced that his administration had approved funds to support their participation and ensure optimal performance at the national sporting event.

"I want you all to compete fairly, give your best, and above all, be good ambassadors of Taraba State," the governor told the contingent, reaffirming his commitment to sports development in the state and assuring the athletes of continued government support.

Mrs. Indo Maxson, Permanent Secretary of the Sports Commission, praised the governor for personally sending off the team, noting that the athletes were well-prepared and motivated to make the state proud at the national competition.

According to George Shitta, Director of Sports, Taraba will be competing in 13 sporting events at the festival. He expressed gratitude to the governor for his unwavering support for sports development and participation in national competitions.

Former African badminton champion, Bulus Jimkam, speaking on behalf of the athletes, expressed confidence in the team's readiness to make Taraba proud at the Gateway Games.

The National Sports Festival, also known as the Gateway Games for this edition, is Nigeria's premier sporting event that brings together athletes from all states of the federation to compete in various sporting disciplines.