Akwa Ibom and Bayelsa States took the lead in organizing trials for local government and federal constituencies as the Niger Delta Sports Festival (NDSF) commenced on Tuesday, March 11. While other states prepared to kick off their selection processes, these two states wasted no time in identifying top sporting talents.
In Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State government emphasized its commitment to a transparent and competitive selection process, aiming to showcase the region’s best young athletes. Meanwhile, in Eket, Akwa Ibom athletes competed in a range of sports, including canoeing, weightlifting, wrestling, basketball, and athletics, setting the pace for the trials.
Bayelsa State’s Commissioner for Sports Development and Chairman of the Bayelsa State Liaison Committee, Daniel Igali, who is also a member of the festival’s Main Organizing Committee (MOC), met with the state’s Working Committee on Wednesday to strategize towards achieving the state’s goals at the upcoming festival. The event is scheduled to take place in Uyo from April 1 to 8.
In Eket, Akwa Ibom’s Commissioner for Sports, Paul Bassey, was actively involved in supervising the trials. Athletes from the Eket Senatorial District competed for one of 316 available spots to represent the state at the festival. Competitions took place across multiple sporting disciplines, including football, track and field, weightlifting, traditional wrestling, swimming, basketball, boxing, tennis, handball, canoeing, and volleyball.
The trials, held across locations such as Eket town, Ibeno LGA, and Oron, featured an impressive display of skill and determination. Catherine Ekuta Ewa, technical lead of the Akwa Ibom State Liaison Committee, expressed enthusiasm over the performances, stating, “If we can harness the talents we have seen here, Akwa Ibom will have a very bright future in sports.” She also commended the organizers for providing young athletes with a platform to showcase their abilities and aspire to higher levels of competition.
The Niger Delta Sports Festival will see participation from nine states, including Abia, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Delta, Edo, Imo, Cross River, Ondo, and Rivers. Sponsored by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) as part of its 25th-anniversary celebrations, the festival serves as both a talent discovery initiative and a platform to promote sports development in the region.