By Anne Azuka
Ahead of the 22nd National Sports Festival, Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State on Tuesday charged the state’s young athletes and the entire sporting community in the State, as the defending champions, to uphold the spirit of excellence and discipline.
Oborevwori who gave the charge at Government House, Asaba while receiving the 22nd National Sports Festival Torch of Unity slated to hold in Abeokuta Ogun State from 6th to 30th of May, 2025 said; ” you are the pride of our state and the future of our great nation”.
The governor, represented at the occasion by his deputy, Sir Monday Onyeme commended the National Sports Commission and Ogun State, the host of the 22nd National Sports Festival, for sustaining the noble tradition and for continuing to promote the ideals of national unity and sporting excellence.
“As we receive this torch today, may it ignite in us a renewed sense of hope, passion, and national pride. Be assured that Delta State will continue to support and invest in sports as a catalyst for growth, transformation, and unity.
“Delta State has consistently remained at the forefront of sporting excellence in Nigeria. We are immensely proud of our legacy, hosting and triumphantly winning the 2022 edition of the National Sports Festival, and nurturing some of the finest athletes who continue to make us proud on both national and global stages.
“The arrival of the Unity Torch today further reaffirms our administration’s unwavering commitment to sports as a vital instrument for youth empowerment, social inclusion, and community development. These values align fully with our More Agenda, a renewed hope for progress, prosperity, and unity across all sectors”, Oborevwori stressed.
He described the symbolic torch as more than just a herald of another edition of the nation’s foremost multi-sport event, adding “it stands as a glowing emblem of unity, peace, national integration, and the enduring spirit of sportsmanship that binds us together as Nigerians”.
Earlier in an address, the Chairman, Delta State Sports Commission. Mr. Onoriode Oborevwori lauded government’s contributions to the development of sports in the state, noting that the torch represents peace, unity and true spirit of sportsmanship.
Mr Oborevwori noted that, Delta State is fully prepared, as the athletes are already in training camps, across various cities getting ready to make Delta State proud once again at the festival.
According to him; we are proud to be the defending champion of this great event.
“Over the years, Delta has shown strong commitment to sports development and we will continue to support our athletes, coaches and youths who find purpose and pride through sports.”
On her part, leader of the National Sports Commission delegation, Mrs. Ikana Mbora, noted that President Tinubu on March 25 2025 in Abuja, flagged off the National Sports Festival, with the essence that, the National Sport Commission take the torch round the 36 States of the federation including Abuja, as well as to preach unity, saying that sport remains a unifying factor to Nigerians.
Mrs. Ikana Mbora, who urged State government to create the awareness in the youths by investing in them, noted that the festival will hold from May 16 to 30, 2925 at Abiokuta, Ogun State.
She disclosed that, the team has gone through almost all the state of the federation, including, the North East, North Central, North West, South East, saying the team is currently in South South, and have torched Cross River, Akwa-Ibom, Rivers, Bayelsa, and now in Delta State.
Highlight of the event was the receiving of the said torch of unity by the deputy governor, Sir Monday Onyeme, on behalf of the state Governor.
