Bayelsa wins Niger Delta Sports Festival with 42 gold

Etim Ekpimah

Team Bayelsa has won the maiden edition of the Niger Delta sports festival with 42 gold, 29 silver and 15 bronze.

Bayelsa’s athletes were impressive in their performance in the sporting events featured during the festival. They topped the medal table with 42 gold, 29 silver, and 15 bronze medals, totalling 86.

Delta State came second with 41 gold, 26 silver, and 32 bronze medals. Edo State came third with 23 gold, 63 silver, and 31 bronze, closely trailing the top two.

Rivers State finished fourth with 63 medals, including 21 gold. Ondo State claimed fifth place with 43 medals, followed by the host state, Akwa Ibom, in sixth with 37 medals.

Abia State ended in seventh place with 32 medals, while Imo placed eighth with 42 medals but fewer golds. Cross River State came ninth with 31 medals.

Over 3,000 athletes participated in the week-long festival from the nine Niger Delta states. The sport events was sponsored by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

The event, which served as a platform to showcase raw talent, featured 17 sports.

Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State, who spoke at the event, said the sport festival was aimed at nurturing talents discovered during the maiden edition of the Niger Delta Sports Festival.

Eno made the call in his remarks at the closing ceremony of the one-week sports festival organised by the Niger Delta Development Commission at the Uyo Township stadium on Tuesday.

The governor, who was represented by the Chairman of the Uyo Local Government Council, Dr Uwemediimo Udo, congratulated the organisers and participants on a successful sports festival.

He reminded participants that the festival was not all about sports, but building contacts, ideas and good relationships.

“Gov. Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom is here in spirit, as he asked that I represent him at this event.

“He has sent his best wishes to organisers, the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and all the participants.

“He has asked me to congratulate the organisers for a successful maiden sports festival organised by the Niger Delta Development Commission.

“The governor has asked me to congratulate all participants and has asked me to remind all of you that you are all winners in your own right.

“He said I should inform you that nobody is a loser, as far as this competition is concerned.

“He has also asked that not just discovering these talents, but he is interested in nurturing these talents to ensure they achieve their utmost, as far as their areas of specialty are concerned,” Eno said.

The governor commended all those who have contributed to the festival’s success and in developing the state’s economy through sports.

Eno commended President Bola Tinubu for giving NDDC the approval to organise a world-class event, trusting that the standard will even be higher in future years.

In his remarks, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, Managing Director and Chief Executive of NDDC said that 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 NDDC stakeholders’ engagement as directed by Mr President in line with His Renewed Hope Agenda.

“Implementing the stakeholders’ engagement through the sports festival has brought peace and unity in the region,” Ogbuku said.

The NDDC MD noted that the event has given the athletes to showcase their work and hidden talents which no one saw in them.

“This platform has given you that opportunity to express yourself, and because this platform has given you that opportunity to express yourself.

“It does not matter whether you come last but what is important is that they are athletes in those teams to be selected by scouts.

He commended all the governors of the Niger Delta states for supporting and sponsorship of their teams to participate in maiden sports festival.