The initiator of the Niger Delta Sports Festival and Chairman of Dumanis Icon, Sir Itiako Malik Ikpokpo says the ongoing 22nd National Sports Festival tagged Gateway Games 2024, is a massive improvement from the last edition editions of the Festival hosted by Delta State.
Sir Ikpokpo, who gave the verdict after observing some of the competitions at the MKO Sports Complex, Kuto , Abeokuta and other venues.
Sir Ikpokpo had some pleasant thoughtful words for the Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Shehu Dikko and Director-General, Bukola Olopade who have been burning candle from both ends in order to make the Gateway Games successful.
”First of all, I think that we must say the way it is. It’s a huge, big improvement from what we have always had. And I think it’s also because of the personalities involved.
“I think that basically, the two personalities involved in managing the commission, Shehu Dikko and my friend Bukola Olopade and you can see the razzmatazz, you can see the excitement, you can see the joy. We are in a swimming venue. You can see how all of us are gathered to watch and cheer up swimmers.”
Chairman of Dumanis Icon, went on to state that, “So I think there’s a lot of… The idea is that for every festival, there must be improvement. If there’s no improvement, then there’s no legacy to be left. It’s sporty, it’s exciting. It took them more than two years to really get this thing done after the last festival.”
“And I think they have planned well, whether it’s six months, whether it’s two years, whether it’s ten years. And we’re here and we’re all enjoying ourselves. Niger Delta Sports Festival, we have some athletes coming here competing too.
He was very elated with the facilities at MKO Sports Complex, and he urge other the state governments to give adequate attention to sports.
“I think it’s for state governments to realize that they cannot continue to take sports as a social service. Sports is serious business. Sports should be like every other ministry. Ministry of Works, Ministry of Health.”
“Sports is part of our value chain Sports is part of our life. And so we can’t just put it there. I mean, I can tell there are a lot of states that take sports seriously. Delta, Bayelsa, River, you know, we have state makers. So we have states that take sports seriously. And I think that should be a general phenomenon around the country that sports development is taken seriously and not treated as just a social service and one of those ministries.”
New winners. Records broken. I look forward to young athletes, the older ones doing well. But the younger ones competing and making sure they break records. That’s what athletics is all about.
On the ban clamp on some athletes over drug related issues, Ikpokpo, a two-term Chairman of Isoko South Local Government Council in Delta State, and also a Deputy National President of ALGON, added “The most important thing is that the National Sports Commission deemed it fit, investigated and banned them again. That’s what’s important. So the Sports Commission has the presence of mind to be able to continue to do what is right.”
The man who is eyeing the office of the President of the AthIetics Federation of Nigeria has this message for officials and athletes at the Festival.
“Officials should be fair. Athletes should compete with all their hearts. And make sure they do their state proud and Nigeria proud.”
It imperative to state that the Niger Delta Sports Festival that took place in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, South South, Nigeria was very successful.