IMO BREAKING NEWS BLOG

By Kennedy Onwunali

Imo State has intensified preparations for the second edition of the Niger Delta Games billed to hold in Edo State, with athletes across various sports stepping up training programmes ahead of the competition.

A visit to training venues across the state showed increased activities among athletes and coaches, as teams in athletics, football, basketball, handball, table tennis and taekwondo intensify preparations to represent the state at the regional sporting event.

Coaches and trainers have been working assiduously with athletes to improve their fitness level, technical abilities and team coordination.

Athletics athletes are currently focusing on speed, endurance and discipline, while the football team has stepped up tactical drills and physical conditioning to enhance performance.

Basketball players, Viva Herbert and Chukwueze Obi, expressed excitement at the opportunity to represent the state, assuring that the team is fully committed to achieving positive results at the games.

Similarly, handball players Lucky Udo and Chiyere Okeke said the team has intensified training sessions with determination to make Imo State proud.

Table tennis player, Udochukwu Udaku, expressed confidence in her preparation, stating that she is certain of finishing the competition with a podium performance.

Taekwondo athletes are concentrating on strength, flexibility and technical discipline, while Tony Ibe pledged to deliver an impressive performance, expressing confidence in his readiness for the competition.

Athletics athletes, Uche Vivian and Nomso Chukwuocha, described participation in the games as an opportunity to gain exposure and improve their sporting careers.

Officials have urged the athletes to maintain discipline and remain focused as the state targets an impressive performance at the Niger Delta Games.

In Ondo State, the vision of organisers of the Niger Delta Games is already gaining traction as the state has now adopted a policy to have coaches scout for talents in villages and local government areas.

The local governmen, federal constituency and state trials have been an integral process for athletes selection for participation I the finals.

At the conclusion of the local government trials in Ondo State ahead the state trials next Monday, the Ondo State Commissioner for Sports, Hon Segun Omoyofunmi announced the state's resolve to henceforth continously embark on talent discovery.

"Coaches and organising Secretaries must henceforth be posted to all zonal offices to sustain the ‘catch-them-young’ policy of the Ondo State Government. 

"Zonal offices are to be made functional to enable the discovery of more young athletes who will continue to make Ondo State proud", he directed.

On the exercise conducted by the Screening Committee of the organisers, the Commissioner who also heads the State Liaison Committee for the games, expressed satisfaction with the outcome after all the screened athletes were cleared.

“This screening has been an eye-opener for the management, coaches and other officials of the Ondo State Sports Council to work beyond the Niger Delta Games by harnessing the potential we are seeing here."

"I have attended all the Niger Delta Games trials and screening venues with my committee, and I can boldly say that we are truly blessed with an abundance of talent in Ondo State", he concluded.

The screening, held at the Ondo City Stadium, featured about 400 athletes who will be competing in boxing, table tennis, volleyball and athletics.

The Niger Delta Games is scheduled to hold in Edo State between February 20 and 27 , with Ondo, Imo, Delta, Abia, Akwa Ibom, Rivers, Cross River, Bayelsa and Edo States set to compete for podium finishes.

Edo State is already reaping the benefits of hosting the 2nd edition of the Niger Delta Games as the organisers have completed significant upgrades on the sporting facilities earmarked for the competition

Just as was done in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, prior to the start of the 1st edition, the organisers and the sponsor, Niger Delta Development Commission(NDDC) have kept the promise of improving facilities in host states.

Considerable rehabilitation work is ongoing at the 50 meter long and 20 feet deep Olympic standard swimming pool at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium and also at the tennis courts beside the main arena 

"Your Excellency, let me offer you the assurance that as part of our intervention policy, sporting facilities for the Games will be upgraded to meet international standards," Dr. Samuel Ogbuku had said to Governor Monday Okpebholo during the unveiling of the state as hosts of the Games on December 4.

The assurance was again restated by Sir Itiako Ikpokpo, the Chairman of Dunamis-Icon Limited, organizers of the games during a recent inspection tour of the facilities.

"We have carried out the assessment of the facilities that will host the competitions, and in a few weeks, there will be a major transformation of those that have deteriorated. 

"It is a legacy that the games bring to host states," Ikpokpo told journalists at the end of the inspection.

Other renovated facilities include the twin volleyball and basketball courts at the Wire Road Sports Centre, which have been provided dressing rooms and conveniences.

Abia, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, and Delta States are among the nine members of the regional bloc. Others are Edo, Imo, Ondo, and Rivers.

Over 3000 athletes and 500 coaches will be participating in the games for 16 sports. The games will be held from February 20-27. 

Edo State has officially begun athlete trials across its local government areas ahead of the 2nd Niger Delta Sports Festival, set for February 20–27, 2026. 

The Executive Chairman of the Edo State Sports Commission, Hon. Amadin Desmond Enabulele, applauded the athletes and technical officials for their commitment, describing the turnout and enthusiasm at centres in Akiko-Edo, Auchi, Uromi and Ikpoba-Okha as impressive.

Hon. Enabulele said the commencement of LGA trials signals Edo’s full preparation mode, with the exercise expected to wrap up at the state level by February 12 before close camping begins. 

He urged coaches and officials to be thorough in selecting the best U-20 talents capable of bringing glory to the state, adding that Edo is fully ready to host a seamless Niger Delta Games in Benin City.

Trials kicked off in sports including weightlifting, handball, volleyball, chess and athletics, with final athlete lists expected between Friday and Tuesday. 

Coaches revealed that while some athletes are already known at state level, several raw talents discovered from rural areas could earn places. 

The festival will feature over 3,000 athletes, 500 coaches and officials, competing across 16 sports.

Expectedly, the trials for Delta State contingent to the 2nd Niger Delta Games drew a huge number of athletes to Asaba, the state capital.

This year’s edition of the Games, organised by Dunamis-Icon Limited for the nine states that make up the region under the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), will hold in Benin City, Edo State from February 20 to 27.

Last year in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Team Delta was beaten to the title by Bayelsa State with the odd gold medal on the last day of competition.

This time around, Team Delta do not seem prepared to leave anything to chance.

On Wednesday, due to the large turn out of athletes, Team Delta officials decided to split the scheduled trials into two phases, with the first phase running from Friday, February 6 to February 8.

The Chairman, Delta Sports Commission, Onoriode Oborievwori, stated on Wednesday that the final trials will run from February 9 to 11.

“After these two phases of the trials, our athletes will begin main camping for the Niger Delta Games on February 12. At the moment, we have 374 athletes and 51 officials set for this trials. Our athletes will be camped in various locations in Asaba, and they will depart for Benin City on February 19,” Oborevwori stated.

Meanwhile, the Executive Assistant to Governor Sheriff Oborevwori on Sports, Festus Ohwojero, has praised the leadership of Delta Sports Commission for the various steps taken, particularly on welfare of athletes and officials ahead of the Games.

Ohwojero, who is the immediate past Director General of Delta Sports Commission, said he is optimistic of Team Delta topping the medals table at the end of the Games in Benin City on February 27.

Among the sports expected to feature in Team Delta’s trials include athletics, chess, table tennis, tennis, scrabble, handball, wrestling, football, volleyball, swimming, taekwondo, powerlifting, basketball, boxing and weightlifting.

Over 3000 athletes and 500 officials will participate in this year’s 2nd Niger Delta Games.

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It has been a frenzy of activities at the nine states offices of the Liaison Committees of the 2nd Niger Delta Games and on the fields with athletes and their coaches undergoing trials, screening and putting finishing touches to their preparations.

BAYELSA

The overall champions of the 1st edition, Bayelsa State concluded screening of registered athletes and set dates for state final trials to select representatives that will make the trip to Benin. 

Director of Sports at the Bayelsa State Sports Council, Mr. Andrew Aye says the trial will hold on Tuesday, February 3, 2026.

The Bayelsa contingent won a total of 86 medals made up of 42 gold, 29 silver and 15 bronze medals to top the table at the end of the festival sponsored by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

Team Delta finished in second position garnering 99 medals comprising 41 gold, 26 silver and 32 bronze, while Team Edo were 3rd with 23 gold, 35 silver and 31 bronze medals.

 AKWA IBOM

Some athletes from the state are brimming with confidence on their medal chances with not a few promising to return from Benin with gold medals.

Destiny Ini Umoh is a table tennis player who didn't mince words in predicting he would claim the gold medal.

"I have trained very well and will continue to focus on my game to make my state proud when we go to Benin", Umoh said in a recorded video from his training site.

Getting off her Para Powerlifting training bench, Patience Elijah spoke into the camera lens, saying, "we won in the last festival and will win more this time in Edo.

Akwa Ibom State witnessed large turnout of athletes and fans for their trials at different locations in Uyo that included the Godswill Akpabio Stadium, Ultrafit Gym, West Itam Secondary School. It left Paul Bassey, the state's Commissioner for Sports upbeat that the state will make improved medals returns from Benin.

IMO STATE

State Liaison Committee Chairman, Hon Obinna Onyeocha was sighted in pictures and videos supervising preparations at the Dan Anyiam Stadium and the Committee's offices.

The Secretary of the Committee, Willie Okolieogwo spoke of the state's areas of strength in wrestling, handball, football and Para Powerlifting.

"We have done considerably well to motivate our athletes and look forward to a good outing, certainly better than our performance in Uyo", he assured.

RIVERS STATE 

Chris Green, the State Liaison Committee Chairman was for the first time seen involved with the contingent, apparently taking a break from the Rivers United CAF Champions League involvement.

The state final trials have been spread across the week with the football event slated for Saturday. Some of the potential basketball representatives shot videos in which they spoke of retaining the gold they won in Uyo.

From Asaba, Benin and Akure, the young ones are all caught up in anticipation to be part of the biggest regional multi-sports competition in Africa. 

All the teams are to arrive on February 19 and would be camped at the upscale Benson Idahosa University.