Ovie smith, Yenagoa
State Commissioners for Sports and Chairmen of Sports Commissions across the nine mandate states of the Niger Delta development commission (NDDC) have commended the commission for launching the Niger Delta Sports Festival. They believe the initiative will significantly boost sports development and human capital growth in the region.
At a stakeholders’ meeting held at the NDDC Headquarters on Friday, sports leaders from the states expressed their enthusiasm for the project.
They described the festival as a groundbreaking development for sports in the Niger Delta, recognizing its potential to elevate both regional and national athletics.
Presiding over the meeting, Alabo Boma Iyaye, NDDC’s executive director of finance and administration and chairman of the Planning committee, emphasized the importance of the festival.
A former Rivers state commissioner for sports, Iyaye highlighted that the Niger Delta has consistently produced top-tier athletes for Nigeria.
He stressed the need to sustain this output to enhance the region’s and the nation’s sporting achievements, aligning with president Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s renewed hope agenda.
Iyaye revealed that NDDC has been collaborating with project consultants, Dunamis Icon Limited, for several months to lay the groundwork for the festival. The meeting was convened to ensure that state sports commissioners were fully briefed and aligned with the objectives of the event.
“We saw the need to partner with and support state governments in discovering and nurturing talent, helping young athletes reach national and international levels while also tapping into the global sports economy,” Iyaye stated.
He also acknowledged the financial constraints that many state governments face in funding sports, emphasizing that NDDC’s intervention would help bridge the gap.
“Niger Delta states contribute the largest number of elite athletes to Nigeria. If they stop producing, the country suffers. This festival, introduced as part of NDDC’s 25th anniversary celebrations, will provide a platform for young talents and ensure continued support for training and competition participation.”
According to Iyaye, the talent selection process will begin at the local government and federal constituency levels, ensuring that young athletes from rural communities have the opportunity to compete and showcase their skills.
The sports commissioners from all participating states welcomed the initiative and called for it to become an annual event.
Barrister Chris Green (Rivers State) and Mrs. Agnes Atsu (Cross River State) described the festival as a long-awaited intervention in regional sports development. They noted that it would help alleviate financial challenges faced by state governments in talent scouting, training, and facility provision.
Among the key figures at the meeting were Bayelsa state commissioner for sports, Daniel Igali, and Imo State commissioner for sports, Hon. Obinna Onyeocha. permanent secretaries from Akwa Ibom and Rivers state ministries of sports, Lady Nsa Bassey and Mr. Kelvin Nweke.