“Niger Delta youths are artistic and able to compete. Past medals and trophies, these Video games are about expertise discovery.,
President Bola Tinubu has declared the second version of the Niger Delta Video games open, describing sports activities as a strong instrument for unity, empowerment and expertise discovery amongst youths of the area.
The Video games had been formally flagged off on Friday, February 20, 2026, on the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin Metropolis, Edo State, amid vibrant cultural shows and fanfare.epresented by the Minister of State for Trade, John Enoh.
The President counseled the Niger Delta Improvement Fee (NDDC) for sustaining the sports activities pageant, noting that the initiative aligns along with his administration’s precedence on human capital improvement.
“Niger Delta youths are artistic and able to compete. Past medals and trophies, these Video games are about expertise discovery. Younger skills should see sports activities as a pathway to profession improvement and international recognition,” Tinubu stated,
The president additionally name for better funding in programmes that empower youths and ladies.
The week-long pageant, themed “Past Oil: Harnessing Abilities,” options over 3,000 athletes from the 9 Niger Delta states competing in 17 sports activities.
The athletes are camped at Benson Idahosa College, whereas occasions are staged throughout designated venues in Benin Metropolis. The Video games are organised by Dunamis-Icon Restricted and sponsored by the NDDC.
In the meantime, Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo, who hosted the occasion, introduced a ₦20 million money reward for the general winners and ₦10 million for the runners-up.
He described the Video games as greater than a contest, however an emblem of resilience, unity and the boundless human potential of the Niger Delta.
“These Video games present that the Niger Delta just isn’t solely outlined by its pure assets, however by its skills and prospects. Via sports activities, self-discipline is taught, character is constructed and bounds disappear,” the governor stated.
Managing Director of the NDDC, Chief Samuel Ogbuku, reaffirmed the fee’s dedication to sustaining the pageant, stressing that the competitors was designed strictly for novice athletes to make sure real expertise improvement inside the states.
Additionally talking, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, represented by Senator Asuquo Ekenyoung, pledged continued legislative help for youth improvement initiatives and urged athletes to compete with delight and integrity.
The Niger Delta Video games will run till February 26, 2026, with organisers expressing optimism that the pageant will proceed to function a platform for locating and nurturing future nationwide and worldwide sports activities stars from the area.
