The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has received widespread praise from state commissioners for sports across the region for its decision to organise the Niger Delta Sports Festival, an initiative aimed at boosting sports and human capital development.
At a stakeholders’ meeting held at the NDDC Headquarters on Friday, January 31, 2025, commissioners and sports officials from the nine mandate states hailed the competition as a game-changer for sports in the region. They described the proposed festival as the biggest intervention in sports development in the Niger Delta, expressing optimism about its potential to elevate local talent to national and international levels.
Alabo Boma Iyaye, Executive Director of Finance and Administration at the NDDC and Chairman of the festival’s Planning Committee, emphasized that the project aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda. He noted that while the Niger Delta has produced a significant percentage of Nigeria’s top athletes, a structured platform is needed to sustain the region’s dominance in sports and harness untapped talent.
Iyaye disclosed that the NDDC has been working with project consultants, Dunamis Icon Limited, for several months, fine-tuning plans for a successful launch. He explained that the commission decided to collaborate with state sports commissioners to ensure that all stakeholders are on the same page regarding the competition’s structure and objectives.
The festival, he added, would drive grassroots sports development, with preliminary trials set to begin at the local government and federal constituency levels. This strategy, according to Iyaye, will ensure wider participation and talent discovery, particularly among young athletes in rural areas.
State commissioners pledged full participation in the festival and urged the NDDC to sustain it as an annual event. Barrister Chris Green (Rivers State) and Mrs. Agnes Atsu (Cross River State) described the initiative as “a divine intervention”, noting that it would fill critical funding gaps in talent scouting, training, and facility development.
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Other top sports officials present included Daniel Igali (Bayelsa State Commissioner for Sports), Hon. Obinna Onyeocha (Imo State Commissioner for Sports), Lady Nsa Bassey (Permanent Secretary, Akwa Ibom State Ministry of Sports), and Mr. Kelvin Nweke (Permanent Secretary, Rivers State Ministry of Sports). Representatives from Edo, Abia, Delta, and Ondo States also attended, including Hon. Frank Ilaboya (Executive Director, Edo State Sports Commission), Hon. Onyebuchi Chukwu (Special Assistant to the Governor of Abia State), Omajajah Onoriode (Director of Administration, Delta State Sports Commission), and Mr. Akin Kayode and Joseph Fagite (Ondo State Sports Council).
The Project Consultants team, led by Sir Itiako Ikpokpo, included Fred Edoreh (Director of Organisation), Seigha Porbeni (Co-Head, Technical Directorate), Yusuf Ali (Head of Competitions), Enefiok Udo-Obong (Co-Head Technical), Dr. Ochuko Igbigbisie (Head of Facilities), Ono Akpe (Sponsorship and Marketing), Onome Obruthe (Special Duties), Harry Iwuala (Communications), Innocent Afereha (Finance and Accounts), and Tessie Ineke (Head Secretariat).
A key highlight of the meeting was a presentation by the Project Consultants, after which stakeholders unanimously approved Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, as the host city for the maiden edition. The festival is scheduled to take place from April 1 to April 9, 2025.
The competition will feature a mix of Olympic and traditional sports, including Athletics, Basketball, Boxing, Canoeing, Chess, Football, Handball, Para-Athletics, Para-Powerlifting, Scrabble, Swimming, Table Tennis, Tennis, Volleyball, Weightlifting, and Traditional Wrestling.
