Niger Delta Games: Reintroduce schools sports to discover

From Tony Osauzo, Benin

The Chief Executive Officer of Dunamis Icons Limited, organizers of the ongoing Niger Delta Games, Hon. Itiako Ikpokpo, yesterday, stressed the need for the re-introduction of Schools Sports in the country to discover and develop new talents.

Fielding questions from members of Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, one of the venues of the Games, Ikpokpo emphasized that Sports was vital to national development.

“We need to be deliberate, to plan for Sports. We need to invest and Sports should be taken very seriously”, he said adding that one of the impacts of the Niger Delta Games is the development of more sporting facilities in the region.

Speaking on officiating at the Games, Ikpokpo said the judges were fair in their handling of the games. He explained that even when medals have been won they can be withdrawn based on evidence of wrongdoing.

He disclosed that two states that reported poaching of their athletes have had the athletes withdrawn from the games.

The Dunamis Icons Limited boss harped on the need to stop age cheat in Sports competitions, saying “If we don’t stop age cheat, we would not have people on our medals table”.

He, therefore, urged all hands to be on deck to check age cheating in Sports.

Honourable Ikpokpo while disclosing that the next edition of the Niger Delta Games would feature 21 games as against 16 games in this year’s edition, said Dunamis Icons Limited was creating a platform to nurture discovered young talents.

On challenges at the games, Hon. Ikpokpo said “There has been no serious challenges, it’s been smooth sailing”. He however disclosed that an official who was coming from Akwa Ibom to attend the games in Benin was involved in an accident in which some lives were lost.

He said the official was being taken to mortuary when he woke up and has returned home for adequate medical attention.

Honourable Ikpokpo expressed gratitude for all the support he has been receiving for the games from stakeholders.