Ikpokpo: Edo State 98% Ready to Host 2nd Niger Delta Games
Bayelsa, Delta Receive Torch of Unity as Edo Declares Readiness for Niger Delta Games
The Torch of Unity for the 2nd Niger Delta Games continued its symbolic journey on Monday, arriving in Bayelsa and Delta States, as organisers declared Edo State nearly set to host the regional sporting festival.
Managing Director of Dunamis-Icon Limited and Lead Consultant for the Games, Sir Itiako Ikpokpo, told journalists that Edo was “98 percent ready” for the competition, scheduled to run from February 20 to 26 in Benin City.
He explained that facilities requiring upgrades had been completed in partnership with the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), while hostels and sporting venues were prepared to welcome athletes.
‘The hostels are ready, the facilities are ready, we are just waiting for the athletes to arrive,’ Ikpokpo said.
He also stressed that measures had been put in place to prevent athlete poaching among participating states, noting that the Games were designed not merely to win medals but to discover and nurture talents that could represent the Niger Delta and Nigeria.
In Bayelsa, Governor Douye Diri, represented by Commissioner for Sports Daniel Igali, received the Torch at the Samson Siasia Complex. He praised the organisers and sponsors for positioning the Niger Delta as a leader in sports development.
‘With this initiative, they have placed the Niger Delta States ahead of every other region in the country. We commend them and hope for an even bigger and better Games this time,’ he said.
In Delta State, the Torch was received at Government House, Asaba, where officials reaffirmed their commitment to youth empowerment and regional unity through sports.
The Torch was later handed to Nigeria’s former swimming star, Blessing Forcados, for onward transmission to Ondo State, continuing its journey across the region.
The Lighting of the Festival Torch, organisers explained, represents the unity of all Niger Delta states, fostering friendship, fair competition, and peaceful coexistence.
With over 4,000 athletes expected to compete across 16 sports, anticipation is building for the official opening ceremony on Friday, February 20, and the closing event on Thursday, February 26.
