Uyo to Host Inaugural Niger Delta Sports Festival, Commissioners Laud NDDC’s Initiative
The Commissioners for Sports and Chairpersons of Sports Commissions from the nine states under the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) have praised the Commission for launching the Niger Delta Sports Festival, a groundbreaking initiative aimed at promoting sports and human capital development in the region.
At a stakeholders’ meeting held at the NDDC headquarters on Friday, January 31, delegates expressed overwhelming support for the festival, with many calling it the most significant sports initiative to ever come to the region.
Alabo Boma Iyaye, the Executive Director of Finance and Administration at NDDC and Chairman of the festival’s Planning Committee, led the meeting. Iyaye, who also served as the former Commissioner for Sports in Rivers State, explained that the festival was conceived to address the need for continued investment in the region’s sports sector, especially considering the Niger Delta’s role in producing a significant number of Nigeria’s elite athletes.
“We recognized that while the Niger Delta region is a major contributor to Nigeria’s sports success, there is a pressing need to support these athletes and ensure the growth of the region’s sports potential,” Iyaye said. “In line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, the NDDC has been working with our project consultants, Dunamis Icon Limited, to ensure the success of this festival. This meeting serves to update all stakeholders and ensure we are united in our vision for this initiative.”
The NDDC has partnered with state governments to help identify and nurture young athletic talent, with plans to provide ongoing support for training and competition. “The festival is designed to bring sports to the grassroots level, offering young people from local governments and federal constituencies an opportunity to showcase their skills,” Iyaye emphasized.
Rivers and Cross River State Sports Commissioners, Barrister Chris Green and Mrs. Agnes Atsu, respectively, lauded the festival’s introduction as a vital solution to the region’s sports funding challenges. “This festival is a divine intervention and will help bridge the funding gap for talent discovery, training, and sports infrastructure,” they stated.
The meeting also saw the participation of sports officials from Bayelsa, Imo, Akwa Ibom, and Rivers States, with many expressing their eagerness to participate in the festival. Commissioners from Edo, Abia, Delta, and Ondo states were represented by key members of their sports commissions.
The highlight of the meeting was the announcement that Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, will host the first edition of the Niger Delta Sports Festival from April 1 to 9. The event will feature a diverse range of sports, including Athletics, Basketball, Boxing, Canoeing, Chess, Football, Handball, Para-Athletics, Para-Powerlifting, Scrabble, Swimming, Table Tennis, Tennis, Volleyball, and Weightlifting. Additionally, traditional wrestling will be included alongside Olympic-style wrestling, marking a unique cultural inclusion in the festival.
This inaugural edition of the festival promises to provide a major platform for emerging talent in the region while supporting the continued growth of sports in the Niger Delta and beyond.
