Akwa Ibom State Governor, Umo Eno, has assured of the state’s readiness to host the maiden edition of the Niger Delta Sports Festival, pledging a top-notch event that will strengthen regional unity and showcase local talents.
Speaking on Friday in Uyo during a courtesy visit by a delegation from the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) led by its Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, Governor Eno expressed gratitude for the choice of Akwa Ibom as the festival’s venue.
“Sports remain a veritable source of strengthening the existing bonds among the Niger Delta states and its people,” Eno said, emphasizing the festival’s role in fostering collaboration and boosting the local economy. He assured the NDDC team that the state government would set up a working committee to ensure the event’s success.
Dr. Ogbuku highlighted the NDDC’s vision behind the festival, stating that beyond infrastructure development, the commission is committed to uniting the region and promoting its abundant sporting talents.
“The unanimous adoption of Uyo as the venue for this event was occasioned by the serenity of the state and the availability of requisite infrastructure,” he said.
According to Ogbuku, the festival, scheduled for April 1-8, marks the NDDC’s 25th anniversary and will feature 20 sporting events at the Goodwill Akpabio International Stadium.
“It is not only because Akwa Ibom is the Promise Land, but Akwa Ibom has also been able to provide the right facilities to accommodate the 20 sporting events that we are putting together for the Niger Delta Sports Festival,” he added.
Athletes, sports enthusiasts, and stakeholders from the nine states of the Niger Delta are expected to converge in Uyo for the one-week sporting extravaganza.
