Each governor is expected to hoist the flag of his state.

President Goodluck Jonathan is expected to hoist the National Flag at the Teslim Balogun Stadium in Lagos on November 3 as part of activities leading to the 18th National Sports Festival.

The Secretary of the festival’s Main Organising Committee, Abba Yola, disclosed this on Monday in Abuja.

The festival is scheduled for the Teslim Balogun Stadium and other venues in Lagos from November 27 to December 9.

The contingent from Abuja and the 36 states of the federation would be participating in the festival, with more than 22 thousand athletes and accompanying officials expected to feature.

“President Jonathan, who is also the festival’s Grand Patron, will be the Special Guest at the occasion, tagged ‘Flag Hoisting Ceremony’ and scheduled for the stadium’s Main Bowl, where he will hoist the national flag,” Mr. Yola said.

The organising committee secretary said the president will be joined by the governors of the 36 states, and the Federal Capital Territory Minister, who will all also hoist their states’ flags at the venue.

“This event, the hoisting of flags, is to practically demonstrate the festival as a symbol of oneness and will also serve as an endorsement for the event,’’ Mr. Yola said.

He said the event would see Mr. Jonathan first taking his turn with the national flag, while the 36 state governors and the Abuja Minister would take their turns thereafter.

Mr. Yola said the festival’s Delegates Registration Meeting has also been scheduled to hold between November 2 and November 9 in Abuja. He said the meeting would allow state Directors of Sports, or their representatives, to confirm their respective contingent’s size and final entries in terms of athletes and officials in each sport.

“This will allow us to print and give them their festival accreditation cards about one week before the commencement of competitions,” Mr. Yola said.

More than 22 thousand athletes and officials, as well as about 3 thousand media and other personnel, are expected at the fiesta.