By Ogenyi Ogenyi, Uyo
Bayelsa State has emerged the overall winner in the maiden edition of the Niger Delta Sports Festival held in Uyo after it clinched 42 gold, 29 silver and 15 bronze.medals.
Serial winners, Delta State came second with 41 gold, 26 silver and 32 bronze, while Edo came third with 23 gold, 35 silver and 31 bronze at the event sponsored by the Niger Delta Development Commission
Declaring the even closed yesterday Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom who was represented by State ALGON chairman, Dr Uwemedimo Udo called for the nurturing of talents discovered during the featuval reminding participants that the festival was not all about sports, but building contacts, ideas and good relationships.
“The Governor has asked me to tell you that it is not just discovering these talents, that he is interested in nurturing these talents to ensure they achieved their utmost, as far as their areas of speciality is concerned.”Eno said.
The Governor commended all who contributed to the success of the festival and ommended President Bola Tinubu for giving NDDC the approval to organise a world class event, trusting that the standard will even be higher in future years.
In his remarks, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, Managing Director and Chief Executive of NDDC said that festival was an avenue to bring people from the nine states of the reguon to compete among themselves and discover champions, who will represent the region and country.
Ogbuku said that the festival was part of NDDC stakeholders engagement as directed by Mr President in line with His Renewed Hope Agenda adding that, “implementing the stakeholders engagement through the sports festival has brought peace and unity in the region,” Ogbuku said.
The MD noted that the event has given the athletes to showcase their work and hidden talents which no one saw in them.
“This platform has given you that opportunity to express yourself, and because this platform has given you that opportunity to express yourself. It does not matter whether you comes last but what is important is that they are athletes in those teams to be selected by scouts.” He said.
He commended all the governors of the Niger Delta states for supporting and sponsorship of their teams to participate in maiden sports festival adding that their support has gone a long way to justify the belief that with sports we could conquer underdevelopment.
Rivers, Ondo, host Akwa Ibom, Abia,Imo and Cross River States finished fourth, fifth,sixth, seventh, eight and ninth respectively.
