The maiden edition of the Niger Delta Sports Festival organized by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) opened in Uyo Tuesday, April 2 with fanfare and pomp.
The ceremony was held in Uyo township stadium with activities which included: cultural displays by the nine NDDC States, parade by athletes and speeches from dignitaries.
In all, 3400 athletes will compete in the 17 Sports Categories which would be held in different centres of the state such as: Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo Township Stadium, Nwaniba Marina, Dakkada Skills Acquisition Centre, Ultra Fit Sports Centre,West Itam Secondary School and Cornelia Cornelly College Uyo.
Declaring the event open, the President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu described sports as a powerful tool for youth development, regional integration and economic growth of a nation.
The President, represented by the Chairman, National Sports Commission, Alhaji Shehu Dikko, said the NDDC has reinforced its commitment to harness sports as a vehicle for empowerment, sustainable development and indeed deepening security within the region.
His words, “Sports is not just about competition, they are powerful tool for youth development, community engagement and economic growth.
I commend the NDDC for their foresight in supporting this event.
He noted that NDDC’s attempt in sports development aligns with the federal government’s ongoing reforms for the sports sector.
The President also applauded the Akwa Ibom Government for hosting the festival saying the state has proven itself as a sports destination for international football.
In his remarks, the Minister of Regional Development, Abubakar Momoh, said that the region was not only vested with natural resources but human potentials for the development of the nation.
Momoh said that the festival has proven that the NDDC is not just known for infrastructure development alone but also in sports development.
He said that sports teaches all values that were fundamental to building a prosperous society and tasked the athletes to see the festival as an opportunity to exhibit their talents.
The Minister added that the festival was not all about winning of medals, it is about building a healthier population among the young people.
In his goodwill message, Gov. Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State urged the athletes to be disciplined, exhibit spirit of sportsmanship throughout the festival.
Eno tasked Akwa Ibom contingents to showcase their talents and win laurels for the state, stressing that the state did not just host the festival but wants to win.
Earlier in his welcome remarks the Chairman, Main Organising Committee,Alabo Iyaye, said the intervention in sports was drawn from the fact that sports transform human lives, the society and the economy.
