Team Bayelsa has emerged the overall winner of the maiden Niger Delta sports Festival held in Uyo, with a haul of 86 medals.
It scooped 42 gold, 29 silver, and 15 bronze medals to top the medals chart, while
Delta State came second with 41 gold, 26 silver, and 32 bronze medals.
In third position is Edo State with a haul of 23 gold, 35 silver, and 31 bronze medals.
Declaring the sports festival held at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State closed, the state Governor, Umo Eno, commended the more than 3,000 athletes who competed in various events for their spirit of sportsmanship.
Gov. Eno urged the organizers of the sports fiesta to nurture the talents discovered during the sports festival.
Represented by the Chairman of Uyo Local Government Council, Dr. Uwemediimo Udo, the governor congratulated the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), organisers of the sports festival for hosting a successful sports festival.
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Managing Director and Chief Executive of the NDDC, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, said the festival, was an avenue to bring people from the nine states of the region to compete among themselves and discover champions, who will represent the region and country.
Ogbuku said that the festival was part of the NDDC’s stakeholders’ engagement as directed by Mr. President in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda.
The NDDC boss noted that the event has given athletes from the oil-producing states the opportunity to showcase their hidden talents.
He commended the governors of the Niger Delta states for supporting the event, and for sponsoring their various teams to participate in maiden sports festival.
