Bayelsa Tops Eight Other States To Win Inaugural Niger Delta Sports Festival

By- Alambo Datonye

Bayelsa State has emerged winners of the first edition of the Niger Delta Sports Festival.

Declaring the result at the closing ceremony of the Games at the Uyo Township Stadium, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Niger Delta Development Commission, Doctor Samuel Ogbuku said Bayelsa came tops ahead of Delta, Edo and Rivers States.

Nine States of the Niger Delta participated in the fiesta which lasted eight days in the Akwa Ibom capital.

Team Bayelsa won a total of 86 medals comprising 42 gold, 29 silver and 15 bronze to beat eight other States that competed in the maiden Niger Delta Sports Festival with the State Director of Sports at the Sports Council, Sir Braveman Wodi attributing the achievement to support from the Governor Douye Diri led Administration and hard work by athletes, officials and administrators.

Team Delta finished in second position with 99 medals made up of 41 gold, 26 silver and 32 bronze as Edo with 89 medals consisting of 23 gold, 35 silver, 31 bronze were third while Rivers occupied 4th spot with 63 medals:21 gold, 16 silver, 26 bronze. Cross River were bottom with31 medals : 5 gold, 7 silver and 19 bronze.

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At the closing ceremony, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Niger Delta Development Commission, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku said the Sports Festival was initiated in line with the President’s Renewed Hope Agenda to meaningfully engage the youths, stating that Sports was a veritable tool to conquer underdevelopment, and hinted of plans by the NDDC to establish a Niger Delta Sports Institute to harness the talent of sports men and women in the region.

Chairman of the Main Organising Committee and Executive Director, Finance and Administration in the NDDC, Alabo Boma Iyaye emphasized that with over 500 new athletes discovered, plans were underway to groom the exceptional talent selected for greater exploits in the future.

Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State who was represented by the Chairman of Uyo Local Government Council, Dr. Uwemedimo Udoh thanked the NDDC for giving the State the privilege to host the inaugural edition while pledging to continue to accord priority to sport development.

About 165 gold medals were won in 17 sporting events in the Niger Delta Sports Festival which featured over 4,000 athletes, coaches and officials from the 9 States in the region.

High points of the closing ceremony were the display of the rich cultural heritage of the Akwa Ibom people and fireworks.