NDDC Charges Organizing Committees to Make Niger Delta Sports Festival a Benchmark for Nigeria
PORT HARCOURT/Nigeria: The Executive Director of Finance and Administration at the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Alabo Boma Iyaye, has challenged the Main Organising Committee (MOC) and Local Organising Committee (LOC) of the Niger Delta Sports Festival (NDSF) to deliver a groundbreaking event that will set a standard for sports festivals across the country.
Speaking during the inauguration of the MOC at the NDDC headquarters in Port Harcourt, Iyaye, who also serves as the Chairman of the committee, emphasized that the festival should be a model for other regions to follow. The ceremony, which took place in a vibrant conference hall adorned with promotional banners of the games, witnessed stakeholders eagerly discussing their hopes for the festival.
“This festival is the first intervention in sports by the NDDC as we mark our 25th anniversary. It is aimed at providing a platform for youths across the nine mandate states to engage their minds and counter delinquent behaviors,” Iyaye explained. He added that the region had historically produced over 60% of Nigeria’s athletes at international sports events, but recent years had seen a decline in this trend.
Iyaye reiterated that the NDDC is committed to reversing this decline by fully supporting the festival, giving young people in the region the opportunity to showcase their talents and develop their skills. He assured the gathering, which included Sports Commissioners from the nine member states, that the Commission will continue to back the festival in subsequent editions to ensure sustained talent discovery and development.
Bayelsa State Commissioner for Sports and Chairman of the NDDC body of states’ Commissioners for Sports, Daniel Igali, lauded the initiative, noting that the festival will help restore the region’s position as a leader in producing champions for the country’s sports teams across various disciplines.
Co-Chairman of the MOC, Itiako Ikpokpo, also assured that the festival was on track to exceed expectations. “We are at a crucial stage in implementing the festival plans. Facilities are being renovated and upgraded, and all members are fully committed to ensuring that the festival is a resounding success with exceptional organization,” Ikpokpo said.
The festival, scheduled to take place from April 1-9 in Akwa Ibom State, will feature over 3,000 athletes, 600 coaches, and 500 officiating officials competing in 17 select sports. The MOC includes the nine state Commissioners of Sports, NDDC management staff, a representative of the National Sports Commission (NSC), and consultants from Dunamis Icon.
With such high expectations, the NDSF promises to be a pivotal moment for youth engagement and sports development in the Niger Delta region.
