2025 NDS kicks off in Uyo

Posted : 04 April 2025

As the maiden edition of the Niger Delta Sports Festival kicks off in Uyo, the Governor of Akwa Ibom, His Excellency Umo Eno, has called for more support.

"I call on all Akwa Ibomites to come out en masse and support the sporting activities organized by NDDC. Give them your maximum support," Pastor Umo Eno said.

"The government of Akwa Ibom State remains very supportive of the Niger Delta Sports Festival, which is being hosted in Akwa Ibom State for the very first time.

"We are also made to understand that this is the maiden edition. Pastor Umo Bassey Eno, the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, is their biggest fan and number one supporter.

"I have not failed to call for support for the organizers anywhere he is since it became official that the Niger Delta Sports Festival would be taking place in Akwa Ibom State.

"Akwa Ibom State has become a household name among sport lovers across the country. Suffice it to say that Akwa Ibom State remains home to national and international sporting events. Twenty years ago, this wasn’t the case," he said.

Eno added, "When I was in Lagos, this was not the perception. Back then, at the mention of Akwa Ibom State, the next thing they talked about was 'Ekaette' and 'Akpan,' mimicking our native names and seeing us as house boys and girls.

"If they wanted to be fair to us, they would talk about 'Edikan Ikong' and 'Afang Soup,' our local delicacies, and credit us for being good at it. There was nothing more appealing they could say about Akwa Ibom State.

"Today, through the ingenuity of our successive leaders in Akwa Ibom State, the narratives have changed.

"There is much more to talk about in Akwa Ibom State for good. We have become the epicenter of Nigeria. What is left is declaring Akwa Ibom State as the Capital of Nigeria. We are regaining our lost glory at the speed of light.

"Nowadays, when you hear Akwa Ibom State, you remember IbomAir, the only functional state-owned airline in Nigeria; Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, one of the best stadiums in West Africa; Ibom Icon Hotels and Suites; beautiful road networks; high-rise buildings; the 4 Points by Sheraton Hotel; overhead bridges dotting the city capital; and many more.

"These were the things we only dreamt of in the past. With the passion for development that Pastor Umo Bassey Eno, the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, is bringing to the state through the ARISE Agenda in the areas of Tourism, Agriculture, and Entrepreneurship, Akwa Ibom State will remain a model for other states to follow."

The Niger Delta Sports Festival is set to make waves with 3,400 athletes, 560 coaches, 418 officials, and 17 sport categories.

The chosen centers are Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo Township Stadium, Nwaniba Marina, Dakkada Skill Acquisition Centre, Utrafit Sports Centre, West Itam Secondary School, and Cornelia Connelly College, Uyo, to view various sporting events, courtesy of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), the biggest sponsors of the Niger Delta Sports Festival.

A competition of this nature will no doubt promote sport tourism, foster regional unity, and lead to the discovery of hidden talents and future champions who will proudly represent our nation at important sporting events in Nigeria and on the international scene.

Governor Eno then commended the NDDC for bringing the event to Akwa Ibom State. He also commended the Local Organizing Committee (LOC) for their dedication and hard work in ensuring the smooth planning and execution of the sports festival.

He expressed confidence that the NDDC Sports Festival would be a resounding success, and it could also serve as a veritable platform for raising new stars who will make the country proud in future competitions.

The Governor of Akwa Ibom State directed that the Ministry of Sports in the state should look into organizing similar events, drawing participants from all 31 local government areas in the state.

2025 NDS kicks off in Uyo

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