The Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission. NDDC, says the Commission will establish a sports institute to consolidate the gains of the Niger Delta Sports Festival and enhance sports development in the Niger Delta region.
Ogbuku announced this during the closing ceremony of the maiden Niger Delta Sports Festival organised by the NDDC at the Uyo Township Stadium, Akwa Ibom State.
He noted that the sports fiesta brought together thousands of young athletes from across the nine Niger Delta states to compete in a wide range of sporting activities, aimed at fostering regional unity and discovering the next generation of sporting champions.
Ogbuku stated: “The festival is designed not just as a competition but as a long-term investment in the future of sports in the Niger Delta.
“One of its key objectives is to establish a periodic sporting event that ensures continuous talent development.
“By identifying and nurturing young athletes, the NDDC aims to create opportunities for them to compete nationally and internationally.”
The NDDC boss commended the athletes and restated the importance of stakeholder engagements, a key pillar of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
He observed that events like sports festivals were not just about competition, but also unity, development, and the discovery of homegrown talents that can represent the region and the nation.
Declaring the festival closed, the Chairman of the NDDC Governing Board, Mr. Chiedu Ebie, expressed gratitude to the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, the organising committee, and all athletes for making the event a success.