Niger Delta Sports Festival opens beautifully

The Niger Delta Sports Festival started off in a very beautiful style with the opening ceremony showcasing the region’s rich cultural heritage and athletic prowess.  

Mallam Shehu Dikko, Chairman of the National Sports Commission, declared the festival open in Uyo – South-south Nigeria, on behalf of Nigeria President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.  

A major highlight of the festival was the introduction of the Invited Junior Athletes (IJA) Initiative. The initiative, designed to identify and nurture young talent, will see promising athletes from across the country competing as the 38th state at the upcoming National Sports Festival in Abeokuta. Notably, a healthy percentage of the athletes selected for the IJA initiative are participating in the Niger Delta Sports Festival, underscoring its role in grassroots sports development.  

“This initiative reflects our commitment to using sports as a tool for youth empowerment, just as President Tinubu has envisioned,” the NSC DG Bukola Olopade said.  

The event was graced by the Governors of Akwa Ibom and Ondo states, Umo Eno and Lucky Aiyedatiwa respectively. The dignitaries included the Honourable Minister of the Niger Delta, Abubakar Momoh and top stakeholders from the sporting fraternity.

The festival, which runs from April 1 to 8, features about 3,000 athletes and 500 officials competing in 17 sports.