The Niger Delta Sports Festival (NDSF) trials commenced on Tuesday, March 11, with Akwa Ibom and Bayelsa leading the way among the participating states in organizing selection events for local government and federal constituencies.
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In Yenagoa, Bayelsa State reaffirmed its commitment to identifying and developing top young athletes through a fair and competitive process. Meanwhile, in Eket, Akwa Ibom hosted its opening day of trials, featuring competitions in Canoeing, Weightlifting, Wrestling, Basketball, and Athletics.
Bayelsa’s Commissioner for Sports Development and Chairman of the State Liaison Committee, Hon. Daniel Igali, who also serves on the Main Organizing Committee (MOC), convened a strategic meeting with the Bayelsa State Working Committee on Wednesday. The meeting focused on preparations for the festival, which is set to take place in Uyo from April 1-8.
Igali stressed the importance of upholding the competition’s integrity by ensuring all participating athletes are 25 years old or younger. While acknowledging the significance of winning, he emphasized that the primary goal is to promote fair play, development, and the discovery of young talents.
At the Ministry’s Conference Hall, Igali met with coaches and association secretaries to outline a structured framework for conducting trials at both the Local Government Area (LGA) and Senatorial District levels.
In Eket, Akwa Ibom’s Commissioner for Sports, Paul Bassey, personally supervised the trials across various venues. Young athletes from the Eket Senatorial District competed for one of 316 slots available to represent the state at the inaugural festival.
From football fields to athletics tracks, wrestling mats, swimming pools, and basketball courts, promising athletes showcased their talents across multiple sports, including track and field, weightlifting, traditional wrestling, swimming, boxing, tennis, handball, canoeing, and volleyball. The trials were well-organized, adhering to the high standards set by the MOC.
Catherine Ekuta Ewa, the technical lead of the Akwa Ibom State Liaison Committee, expressed her excitement over the talents on display, stating, “If we can harness the talents we have seen here, Akwa Ibom will have a very bright future in sports.” She also commended the organizers for providing a platform for young athletes to be evaluated and aspire to higher levels of competition.
The trials, held across different locations in the Eket Senatorial District, including Eket town, Ibeno LGA, and Oron, witnessed intense competition and impressive performances from the region’s youth.
A total of nine states are participating in the NDSF, including Abia, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Delta, Edo, Imo, Cross River, Ondo, and Rivers. The festival, sponsored by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), is part of the commission’s sports intervention initiative marking its 25th anniversary. It also aims to discover and nurture athletic talent across the region.
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