Tinubu to Flag Off Niger Delta Sports Festival as Uyo Comes Alive
UYO/Nigeria: President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is set to officially flag off the much-anticipated Niger Delta Sports Festival (NDSF) on Wednesday, April 2, in Uyo. Sponsored by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), the festival will run until April 8, featuring 3,000 athletes and over 500 officials competing across 17 sports.
Over the past week, the festival torch has toured the nine Niger Delta states, beginning in Bayelsa and culminating in its ceremonial lighting at the Uyo Township Stadium during the opening ceremony. The usually quiet and rustic stadium has undergone a stunning transformation, now adorned with vibrant colors, artistic patterns, and sports symbols, a clear indication of the NDDC’s touch. As preparations reach their final stages, finishing touches are being put on decorative structures, performance stages, and live television broadcast risers.
While security presence has intensified, local vendors and traders continue to set up stalls, selling sporting apparel and memorabilia. “This is looking like a carnival, and we are lucky to have the event in our state. Our stadium now resembles those we see on television abroad,” said Etuk James, a young footballer who posed for photos against a mural featuring Nigerian football legends Emmanuel Amuneke, Victor Ikpeba, Nwankwo Kanu, and Seun Ogunkoya.
The opening ceremony will showcase 40 music and comedy acts from the Niger Delta region, alongside cultural dancers representing NDDC states. Edi Lawani, a renowned entertainment impresario and Chairman of the Culture and Entertainment Sub-committee, promised a dazzling spectacle. “We are bringing high-energy sound systems, a full complement of exotic show lighting, and large-format screen projections,” he said. Lead Consultant at Dunamis Icon, Itiako Ikpokpo, added that the event will offer a premium blend of music, dance, and culture, with international Afrobeat star Phyno headlining the evening alongside gospel artist Eben.
