Edo State Crowned Champions of 2nd Niger Delta Games

Edo State has emerged overall winners of the second edition of the Niger Delta Games, which concluded on Thursday in Benin City. The Games, structured to feature only the nine oil-producing states of the Niger Delta, were widely commended for their seamless organisation and competitive spirit.

Edo topped the medals table with a commanding total of 111 medals, comprising 52 gold, 34 silver, and 25 bronze.

Delta State, last year’s first runner-up, once again finished second with 102 medals, including 39 gold, 29 silver, and 34 bronze.

Bayelsa, winners of the inaugural edition, slipped to third place this time, collecting 25 gold, 24 silver, and 26 bronze medals.

Much of Edo’s dominance came from their strength in weightlifting, where they secured 17 gold medals. They also excelled in swimming with 10 golds, athletics with seven, wrestling with four, and scrabble with three.

These performances underlined Edo’s depth across multiple sports and ensured their rise to the top of the standings.

Here is the full medals table from the 2nd Niger Delta Games:

| Rank | State | 🥇 Gold | 🥈 Silver | 🥉 Bronze | Total |
|——|————-|———|———–|———–|——-|
| 1 | Edo | 52 | 34 | 25 | 111 |
| 2 | Delta | 39 | 29 | 34 | 102 |
| 3 | Bayelsa | 25 | 24 | 26 | 75 |
| 4 | Akwa Ibom | 16 | 17 | 22 | 55 |
| 5 | Abia | 9 | 20 | 17 | 46 |
| 6 | Rivers | 6 | 16 | 24 | 46 |
| 7 | Cross River | 9 | 7 | 22 | 38 |
| 8 | Ondo | 7 | 13 | 14 | 34 |
| 9 | Imo | 5 | 8 | 18 | 31 |

Akwa Ibom finished fourth with 55 medals, while Abia and Rivers both tallied 46 medals apiece, though Abia edged Rivers with more golds. Cross River, Ondo, and Imo completed the table.

The Niger Delta Games have reinforced the region’s commitment to fostering talent and unity through competition.