BY GOC Nwadike, Owerri
The Torch Lighting Ceremony for the Niger Delta Sports Festival Took place Thursday in Owerri, the Imo State Capital following the arrival of the Torch Light to the state capital of Owerri, Imo state.
Leading the Torch Lighting Ceremony in the State's Government House at Owerri, the Imo State Governor Hope Uzodinma thanked the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC for making efforts through the festival to curb youths' unemployment in the region as well as harnessing developmental opportunities through Sports.
Speaking through his Deputy, Lady Chinyere Ihuoma Ekomaru, Ph.D, the governor assured the commission of his continued supports, while urging the Imo contingents to the festival to come home with many laurels.
The festival Torch Light which commenced its tours the past one week of the Nine mandate states of the NDDC, left Asaba, the Delta State Capital Wednesday, for Imo, and was received Thursday by the Imo's Brand Ambassador to the festival, Mr. Emmanuel Amunike, mfr, who was represented by "Mr. Universe".
The Torch left the stadium with a Procession to the Imo Government House, where it was handed over to the Honourable Commissioner For Sports, Hon. Obinna Evaristus Onyeocha. Onyeocha and Hon. Willie Okolieogwo serve as the chairman and Secretary respectively, of the State Liaison Committee of the Niger Delta Sports Festival in Imo State.
The Commissioner proceeded to handing over the Torch Light to the Executive Governor Of Imo State, His Excellency, Distinguished Sen. Hope Uzodinma as ably represented.
The Deputy Governor was accompanied by the Chief of Staff to the Imo Governor, Chief Sir Barr. Nnamdi Anyaehie, the Deputy Chief of Staff (Operations), Barr. Emeka Agbor, the Principal Secretary To The Governor, Dr. Irene Chima, the Commissioner for Niger Delta Affairs, Dr. Henry Okafor, the SA to the Governor on Youths Development, Mr. Eric Uwakwe, SA Monitoring And Compliance, Nze Chinasa Nwaneri, SA Public Enlightenment, Nze Eze Ugochukwu among other top government functionaries.
The Torch Light has since departed Imo for Abia state after it was handed back to the MOC by the Deputy Governor.
From Abia on Friday, the Torch shall leave for Cross Rivers State next week Monday.
The Niger Delta Sports Festival scheduled to hold in Uyo, Akwa Ibom state between the 1st and 8th of April, 2025 is a flagship program of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, aimed at harnessing talents from the sporting sector and developing the region beyond oil. It is strictly for athletes Under 25 years of age, and Imo is attending with a total of 400 athletes drawn from a total of 17 Sports recommended by the Commission.
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