Comfort Isaac
The maiden edition of the Niger Delta Sports Festival organized by the Niger Delta Development Commission,NDDC, opened in Uyo on Wednesday with fanfare and pomp.
The ceremony was held in Uyo township stadium There were various activities like cultural displays by the nine NDDC States and parade by the athletes.
Despite the rains, athletes and spectators were thrilled by the colouful performances at the opening ceremony.
In all, 3,400 athletes will compete in 17 sports categories which would be held in different centres like 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, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu described sports as a powerful tool for youth development, regional integration and economic growth of a nation.
Represented by the Chairman, National Sports Commission, Shehu Dikko, the President said the NDDC has reinforced its commitment to harness sports as a vehicle for empowerment, sustainable development and 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.
Minister of Regional Development, Abubakar Momoh, said 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.
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 is hosting the festival to win. Gov. Lucky Aiyadetiwa of Ondo was so impressed that he said his State would like be the next host.
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.
The Sports Festival is sponsored by Premium Trust Bank.
