By Solomon OKPO
Akwa Ibom State has declared talent discovery and long-term athlete development as its core objective ahead of the second edition of the Niger Delta Games, scheduled to hold in Benin City, Edo State, from February 20 to 27.
The State Commissioner for Sports, Elder Paul Bassey, disclosed this on Saturday while briefing journalists on the level of preparations for the regional sports festival, which will bring together athletes from the nine Niger Delta states.
Bassey revealed that Akwa Ibom has registered a total of 476 athletes and 64 coaches on the official Niger Delta Games registration portal, following the close of registration on Friday. He explained that the next phase would involve trials by participating states to determine the final list of athletes that will represent them at the Games.
According to him, Akwa Ibom is deliberately aligning its participation with a future-focused sports development strategy, rather than a narrow obsession with medal counts.
“We have complied strictly with eligibility regulations by registering teenagers and young athletes. While winning gold medals remains important, our overriding priority is to discover and groom new talents who will strengthen Akwa Ibom’s sports ecosystem in the years ahead,” Bassey said.
Providing further details, the State Director of Coaching, Mrs. Cathrine Ewa, disclosed that the profiles of 250 male and 226 female athletes were successfully uploaded on the central registration portal. She added that 44 male and 20 female coaches were also duly registered for the competition.
Both officials expressed optimism about the state’s prospects at the Games, noting that the large pool of young athletes offers a solid foundation for sustained success at national and international levels.
Akwa Ibom State hosted the maiden edition of the Niger Delta Games in April 2025, an event widely acknowledged for revitalising grassroots sports development across the region.
The Niger Delta Games is an initiative of Dunamis-Icon Limited, with Sir Itiako Ikpokpo (KSM), Chairman of the Delta State Athletics Association, serving as Lead Consultant.
