3000 athletes, officials for Niger Delta Games in Edo News

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3000 athletes, officials for Niger Delta Games in Edo

By Daily Sports Nigeria on January 22, 2026

Over 3000 athletes and officials will participate in the Second Niger Delta Games in Edo State from February 20 to 27.

The event, which will feature 17 sports, including football and a cultural night, is being sponsored by the Niger Delta Development Commission.

Chairman of Dunamis Icons Limited, organisers of the Niger Delta Games, Itiako Ikpokpo, disclosed this during an interactive session with journalists in Benin on Wednesday.

He said that participating athletes who must not exceed 20 years of age must be indigenes, with proof of local government of origin, of the participating States.

While noting that grassroots is at the local government level, Ikpokpo advised that efforts should be made to take the talent hunt to the grassroots level to discover more sports talents for the country.

He pointed out that states are not doing enough to elevate sports development, adding that low budgetary provisions for sports by states were far below what is required to uplift sports development.

“We must go back to Schools Sports to discover more young talents for the country,” Ikpokpo said.

“There is a need to elevate conversation on sports in the country. The reason why sports have not become a money spinner is because of the manner in which sports are being managed by administrators.”

He added it was shameful that across the country, cheating is allowed to go on in sports, urging all hands to be on deck to stop the trend.

He also called on the Nigeria Football Federation to look beyond Uyo Stadium for hosting international football games and come to Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City, which he said is as good as the Uyo Stadium.

Source Punch Ng

Posted January 22, 2026