Niger Delta Sports Festival: Talents’ pool thrills officials as Akwa Ibom holds trials for ‘UYO 2025’

THURSDAY March 13, 2025 |TheNewsDESK

Akwa Ibom State showed that it is ready to make a big statement at the maiden Niger Delta Sports Festival, tagged UYO 2025. At the state’s trials, which began Wednesday, March 12, 2025, the officials were pleasantly surprised by the level of skills displayed by the young athletes battling to be selected for the team.

Especially elegant in their events were athletes from Eket Senatorial District competing for one of 316 coveted spots to represent the state at the inaugural event.

From the pitch to the tracks, mat, sand, river, pool, and courts, young athletes gave their all, showcasing their skills in various sports, including football, track and field, weightlifting, traditional wrestling, swimming, basketball, boxing, tennis, handball, canoeing, and volleyball. The organisation of the trials was top-notch, conforming to the world-class standards set by the Main Organising Committee (MOC) of the event.

The technical lead of the Akwa Ibom State Liaison Committee, Catherine Ekuta Ewa, expressed her excitement about the talents on display, saying, “If we can harness the talents that we have seen here, Akwa Ibom State will have a very bright future in sports.” She also thanked the organisers for creating an avenue for young athletes to be screened and aspire to compete at a higher level.

The trials, holding in various locations across the Eket Senatorial District, including Eket town, Ibeno LGA, and Oron, saw a high level of competition, with many young athletes displaying exceptional skills and energy.

The Commissioner for Sports, Elder Paul Bassey, visited the trials and expressed satisfaction with the turnout and level of competition displayed by the athletes.

Bayelsa State is also among the nine states holding their trials for the maiden Niger Delta Sports Festival. In Yenagoa, Bayelsa State declared that it is aiming to put forward its best young athletes in a fair and competitive environment.

The Commissioner for Sports Development and Chairman of the Bayelsa State Liaison Committee, Daniel Igali, who also serves on the Main Organising Committee (MOC), met with the Bayelsa State Working Committee in his office, yesterday.
The meeting was to strategise towards achieving the expected goals for the festival that holds in Uyo, from April 1 to 8. Igali emphasised the importance of maintaining the integrity of the competition by ensuring that all participating athletes meet the age requirement of 25 years and below. He reiterated that while winning is important, the primary focus should be on fair play, development, and showcasing young talent.