Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri, has commended the state’s contingent for emerging overall champions at the recently concluded maiden edition of the Niger Delta Sports Festival held in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.
Speaking during the 161st State Executive Council meeting in Yenagoa, Governor Diri expressed pride in the historic achievement, noting it was the first time Bayelsa outperformed Delta State in any major sporting event.
He said, “This is a proud moment for Bayelsa. For the first time in history, we’ve come first in a competition where Delta State participated. On behalf of the council and the entire state, I sincerely thank all the athletes and officials for this remarkable accomplishment.”
Governor Diri also praised the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) for organizing the event, describing it as a thoughtful initiative that constructively engages the region’s youth. “This appears to be the first of its kind since the NDDC’s establishment, and we are grateful. The Commission handled everything — all we had to do was grant approval,” he said.
Encouraging the athletes to maintain their winning form, he added, “Now that you’ve taken the top spot, there’s no turning back. You’ve set the standard, and like Delta used to do to us, it’s now your turn to keep raising the bar.”
The championship trophy was officially presented to the Governor by the Commissioner for Sports Development, Champion Daniel Igali.
