The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has received widespread commendation from sports commissioners and officials across its nine mandate states for introducing the Niger Delta Sports Festival, an initiative aimed at fostering sports development and talent discovery in the region.
At a stakeholders’ meeting held at the NDDC Headquarters on January 31, representatives from various states expressed their enthusiasm, describing the festival as a groundbreaking intervention that would significantly enhance human capital development and elevate the region’s contributions to Nigerian sports.
Presiding over the meeting, Alabo Boma Iyaye, NDDC’s Executive Director of Finance and Administration and Chairman of the Planning Committee, emphasized the commission’s commitment to sustaining the Niger Delta’s reputation as a hub for elite athletes. He stated that while the region has produced a substantial percentage of Nigeria’s top sportsmen and women, there is a pressing need to maintain this momentum and harness the global sports economy in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
Iyaye noted that the NDDC had been working with Project Consultants, Dunamis Icon Limited, for several months and that significant progress had been made in preparation for the festival. He stressed the importance of engaging state sports commissioners to ensure all stakeholders were aligned with the project’s objectives.
"We considered it imperative to partner with and support the states in discovering and nurturing talents, ensuring they transition from grassroots to national and international prominence," he said.
Recognizing the financial constraints many state governments face in sports funding, Iyaye explained that the festival would help bridge the gap by providing a structured platform for talent identification and development. He further revealed that the selection process would begin at the local government and federal constituency levels, ensuring inclusive participation from rural areas.
In response, sports commissioners and officials from the NDDC mandate states pledged their full support for the initiative, urging the commission to make the festival an annual event. Barrister Chris Green (Rivers State) and Mrs. Agnes Atsu (Cross River State) described the festival as a long-awaited intervention that would ease the financial burden on state governments regarding sports development, talent scouting, and facility provision.
The meeting was attended by Daniel Igali (Bayelsa State Commissioner for Sports), Hon. Obinna Onyeocha (Imo State Commissioner for Sports), and other top officials from Akwa Ibom, Rivers, Edo, Abia, Delta, and Ondo states. Also present were representatives from the Project Consultants team, led by Sir Itiako Ikpokpo KSM, with members including Fred Edoreh (Director of Organisation), Seigha Porbeni (Co-Head, Technical Directorate), Yusuf Ali (Head of Competitions), and Enefiok Udo-Obong (Co-Head Technical).
A major highlight of the meeting was a presentation by the Project Consultants, after which stakeholders unanimously endorsed Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, as the host of the maiden edition, scheduled to take place from April 1 to 9, 2025. The festival will feature a wide range of sporting events, including athletics, basketball, boxing, canoeing, chess, football, handball, para-athletics, para-powerlifting, scrabble, swimming, table tennis, tennis, volleyball, and weightlifting, as well as traditional and Olympic-style wrestling.
The Niger Delta Sports Festival is expected to create opportunities for young athletes, enhance sports infrastructure, and boost the region’s representation in national and international competitions. With the enthusiastic backing of stakeholders, the NDDC’s latest initiative is set to leave a lasting impact on sports development in the Niger Delta.
