Ikpokpo, Delta Athletics Boss, Celebrates Commonwealth Games Call-Up for Niger Delta Games’ Stars

Chairman of the Delta State Athletics Association, Sir Itiako Ikpokpo (KSM), has expressed delight over the selection of standout champions and promising athletes from the Niger Delta Games (NDG) to represent Team Nigeria at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland.

Ikpokpo described the inclusion of the athletes in the national team as a strong endorsement of the Niger Delta region’s sustained contribution to Nigerian athletics and its continued investment in grassroots sports development and high-performance training programmes.

Speaking on the development, Ikpokpo, who is also the Managing Director of Dunamis-Icon Limited, owners of the Niger Delta Games brand, said the progression of the athletes from the domestic competition to the international stage demonstrates the effectiveness of the developmental model adopted by the organisers.

“Seeing our NDG champions and rising prospects make the national roster for a stage as monumental as the Commonwealth Games is a profound moment for us,” Ikpokpo said.

“This is not a stroke of luck; it is a testament to the deliberate, data-driven developmental frameworks we have institutionalised in the Niger Delta States. We have always believed in catching them young, nurturing their raw potential, and giving them the competitive exposure they need to become world beaters.”

He noted that Delta State has consistently served as a major source of talent for Nigeria’s athletics teams, producing athletes who have gone on to achieve success at international competitions.

According to him, the current crop of Niger Delta Games athletes selected for the Commonwealth Games possesses the technical ability, mental strength and physical conditioning required to compete with the world’s best.

“These athletes carry the hopes of not just the Niger Delta region but the entire nation,” he added.

“We have all watched them put in the gruelling hours behind the scenes. The NDG platform was designed to forge champions, and we are incredibly confident that they will deliver stellar performances and make Nigeria proud.”

Ikpokpo also reaffirmed the Delta State Athletics Association’s commitment to providing technical, moral and logistical support to the athletes as they conclude preparations in the national training camps ahead of the 2026 Commonwealth Games.