Preparations for the inaugural Niger Delta Sports Festival (NDSF), scheduled from April 1 to 8, 2025, in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, are advancing rapidly, with significant progress in upgrading key sporting facilities.
A focal point of these enhancements is the refurbishment of the Uyo Township Stadium’s Olympic-size 9-lane swimming pool. The Chairman of the Facility and Transport Subcommittee, Ochuko Igbigbisie, reported that initial assessments are promising.
“Our major fear was allayed when the engineers handling the swimming pool upgrade declared that the pool is not leaking, which would have posed an extended threat to timely repairs,” Igbigbisie noted.
He assured that the facility would be ready a week before the games commence.
Additional venues, including tennis and basketball courts, are also undergoing necessary refurbishments to meet the standards required for the festival.
These infrastructure improvements are expected to leave a lasting legacy for the host state, providing enhanced facilities for future events and community use.
The NDSF, sponsored by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) as part of its 25th-anniversary celebrations, aims to foster unity and showcase athletic talent across the region. The festival will feature over 3,000 athletes competing in 17 sports disciplines.
Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, has expressed strong support for the festival, highlighting its potential to boost the local economy and promote regional integration.
“The festival will not just promote our diversity; it will promote our local economy because many business activities will go on during the festival,” Governor Eno stated.
The NDDC’s initiative has garnered commendations from various stakeholders. Ebi Egbe, CEO of Monimichelle Sports Facility Limited, lauded the commission’s decision to organize the festival, emphasizing its role in combating youth restiveness and promoting sports development in the Niger Delta region.
As the festival approaches, organizers anticipate a significant influx of visitors, necessitating extensive accommodation arrangements. Projections indicate the need for approximately 3,000 bed spaces for athletes and coaches, alongside over 2,000 hotel accommodations for administrators, organizers, and VIP guests.
This surge is expected to stimulate the hospitality sector and related industries in Akwa Ibom State.
With facility upgrades nearing completion and robust support from both the government and private sectors, the Niger Delta Sports Festival is poised to be a landmark event, celebrating athletic excellence and regional unity.
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