Team Bayelsa has emerged champions of the inaugural Niger Delta Sports Festival after dominating the medal table with an outstanding haul of 42 gold, 29 silver, and 15 bronze medals, making a total of 86 medals.
The week-long multi-sport event, sponsored by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), brought together over 3,000 athletes from the nine Niger Delta states to compete in 17 sporting events. It was held across various venues in Akwa Ibom State, with the grand finale taking place at the Uyo Township Stadium.
Bayelsa’s athletes impressed in various categories, delivering top performances that secured them the top spot ahead of strong contenders.
Delta State finished a close second with 41 gold, 26 silver, and 32 bronze medals, while Edo State came third, securing 23 gold, 63 silver, and 31 bronze medals.
Rivers State placed fourth with 63 medals, including 21 golds. Ondo State followed in fifth place with 43 medals, while the host state, Akwa Ibom, came sixth with 37 medals.
Abia and Imo States were ranked seventh and eighth respectively, with Imo collecting 42 medals but finishing behind Abia due to a lower number of gold medals. Cross River State came ninth with 31 medals.
Speaking during the closing ceremony on Tuesday, the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Pastor Umo Eno, represented by the Chairman of Uyo Local Government Council, Dr Uwemedimo Udo, congratulated the NDDC and all participants for a successful event.
Governor Eno highlighted that the festival was more than a competition, describing it as a platform for networking, talent discovery, and regional unity.
“This festival is not just about medals. It’s about building relationships, sharing ideas, and discovering future stars. There are no losers here,” Eno said.
He also emphasised the importance of nurturing talents identified during the festival to ensure they reach their full potential in sports.
The Managing Director of NDDC, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, described the festival as a major success that aligned with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
According to Ogbuku, the sports festival served as a crucial platform to foster peace and unity in the Niger Delta and to engage stakeholders meaningfully through youth-focused initiatives.
“This event has brought people together in peace and competition. Whether you won medals or not, what matters is that you had the opportunity to compete and be seen. Scouts are watching, and some of you will go on to represent the region and the nation,” he said.
The success of the maiden edition of the Niger Delta Sports Festival has now laid a solid foundation for future editions aimed at further uniting the region and promoting grassroots sports development.
