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There was an impressive turnout of athletes and spectators on Friday as the Akwa Ibom State trials for the second Niger Delta Games entered day two across multiple venues in Uyo.
The Nest of Champions and the West Itam Sports Centre played host to four sports, with droves of athletes, officials and fans in attendance.
At the Nest of Champions, boxing action took centre stage, drawing strong applause from spectators. The bout in the men’s 60–65kg category between Jedidiah Bassey and Princewill Itoro stood out, as both boxers displayed impressive punching accuracy, footwork, agility and composure.
The performance caught the attention of the Chairman of the State Liaison Committee for the Games and Commissioner for Sports, Elder Paul Bassey, who was among the dignitaries present.
Speaking on the sidelines, Bassey commended the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), sponsors of the Games, and Dunamis-Icon Limited, organisers of the event, for their commitment to talent discovery. He noted that the competition aligns with the ARISE Agenda of Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno.
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“The administration of Governor Umo Eno places high premium on talent identification and grassroots sports development,” Bassey said. “The ideals of this competition align completely with His Excellency’s ARISE Agenda, and I am grateful to the NDDC and Dunamis-Icon for putting together an initiative that benefits everyone.”
Meanwhile, at the West Itam Sports Centre, handball, volleyball and basketball trials recorded full participation, with all registered athletes turning up for the exercise.
Volleyball player Godswill Edet, an SS2 student of West Itam Secondary School, expressed excitement at being part of the trials, saying he looks forward to making his parents and the state proud at the main Games.
Similarly, Esther Idongesit, an SS3 student of Community Secondary Commercial School, Ibiaku Itam, said the trials have strengthened her ambition to pursue a professional handball career.
Team Akwa Ibom, who finished sixth at the maiden Niger Delta Games, will aim to improve on that performance when the second edition holds from February 20 to 27 in Edo State.
