•Governor Umo Eno
… charges state’s contingent to victory
The Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Pastor Umo Eno, has charged participants in the Niger Delta Sports Festival to build friendships and promote peace in the region, even as he urged the state’s contingent to not only host the competition but to emerge victorious.
Governor Eno made this call at the opening ceremony of the maiden edition of the festival, held at the Uyo Township Stadium yesterday, Wednesday, April 2, 2025.
Emphasising the theme, “Beyond Oil: Harnessing Talents,” the governor described the sports fiesta as aligning with one of the thematic areas of his administration’s ARISE Agenda: Human Capital Development.
He commended the vision of the current Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) management to restore the region’s past glory in sports, noting that it aligns with the state government’s commitment to discovering talents through sporting events, as reflected in the creation of a stand-alone Ministry of Sports.
According to Governor Eno, “The ministry is headed by a veteran sports journalist and international football administrator, Paul ‘Sports’ Bassey. There was a time when athletes from our region dominated Nigerian sports — from athletics to boxing, table tennis to weightlifting — from our beautiful, peaceful, and serene Capital City of Uyo to the bustling Oil and Gas hub in Eket, and to the Rafia City of Ikot Ekpene. To all the athletes gathered here, I urge you to uphold discipline and the spirit of sportsmanship.”
He then charged the competitors to make judicious use of the opportunity by building friendships, promoting unity, and showcasing their talents, while challenging the state’s contingent to put in their best efforts and win medals to justify their hosting rights.
In his words, “Beyond winning medals, this event is an opportunity to build friendships, promote unity, and showcase the talents of the youths of the Niger Delta. To the Akwa Ibom State contingent, I challenge you to go out there and win medals for our state. We are not just hosting these games; we are hosting to win!”
Speaking also, the Governor of Ondo State, Mr. Lucky Aiyedatiwa, commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his support in enabling the NDDC to organise the festival, stressing that the sports fiesta will serve as a bridge for regional unity and fast-track the discovery of sports talents in the Niger Delta.
The Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Alhaji Shehu Dikko, who represented President Tinubu, applauded Governor Eno for his proactive and impactful efforts in ensuring the successful hosting of the event.
Earlier, NDDC’s Executive Director, Finance and Administration, and Chairman of the Festival Planning Committee, Alabo Boma Iyaye, thanked Governor Eno for his support and for granting the NDDC the opportunity to host the competition in the state. He noted that the success of the event would not have been possible without the governor’s cooperation and commitment.
He described the festival as part of the Renewed Hope Agenda, which aims to gather youths across the Niger Delta to motivate young talents, while calling on prospective volunteer hosts to indicate their interest in enhancing the effective planning of subsequent editions of the festival.
