WEDNESDAY March 26, 2025 |
By thenewsdesk.ng
Chairman of the Main Organising Committee of the Niger Delta Sports Festival, NDSF, Alabo Boma Iyaye, has expressed satisfaction with the level of preparations ahead of the Niger Delta Sports Festival, NDSF.
He disclosed this on Tuesday, March 25, 2025, during an inspection tour of hostel facilities and competition venues in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital.
Iyaye, who is also the Executive Director, Administration and Finance of the Nigeria Delta Development Commission, NDDC, sponsors of the event, said he was thrilled by the state of facilities at the Dakkada Skills Acquisition Centre, which is the accommodation venue of five of the nine states, as well as venue of basketball, tennis and volleyball events.
Other facilities inspected by Iyaye are the West Itam Sports Centre, Ultra Fit Sports Centre, swimming pool section of the Uyo Township Stadium, which is undergoing renovation, and the Cordelia Connelly College.
“I am really excited about the facilities and the level of preparations. From what I have seen, I can say that we are ready. The consultants have done a great job, and it gives me joy.
“I used to think that Edo or Delta would be best qualified to host these Games in terms of facilities, because they have recently hosted the National Sports Festival, but looking at what Akwa Ibom has given to us, I am indeed proud.”
On the benefit of the festival, Iyaye said it was multi-pronged.
“We know that the Niger Delta Development Commission mandate states produce about 70 to 80 per cent of Nigeria’s best athletes, but we have also observed the decline in our nation’s sporting fortunes, and as an interventionist agency which has been delivering on various infrastructural needs across the region, we find it necessary to intervene in sports, to provide opportunities for our youths to excel and to show the world that the Niger Delta is not only about oil. This is why the theme of the festival is ‘Beyond Oil: Harnessing Talents.’”
“But the festival is not only about talent discovery. It also leads us into intervention in sporting facilities, like we are doing now in Akwa Ibom.”
The Niger Delta Sports Festival, sponsored by the NDDC, NDDC, holds in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, from April 1 to 8, 2025.
The event is also supported by Premium Trust as Lead Corporate Sponsor, alongside Ramec Group, Ocean Sands and Havillah Hotels.
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