Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has confirmed that the state will host the next edition of the Niger Delta Sports Festival in February 2026. The announcement came during a courtesy visit by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to the Government House, Benin City.
Speaking to officials, Governor Okpebholo described Edo as “the right state” to host the festival, pledging a successful and memorable event. “We have the strength, we have the athletes, and we have what it takes to win every sporting activity,” he said. He also appealed to the NDDC to partner with the state in rehabilitating the Agbor–Uromi Road, which he described as “not motorable.”
The festival, themed “Beyond Oil: Harnessing Talents”, aims to promote regional integration and showcase athletic talent across the Niger Delta. The inaugural event earlier this year saw over 3,000 athletes from the nine Niger Delta states participate.
NDDC Managing Director, Chief Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, praised Governor Okpebholo’s administration for its achievements in sports and infrastructure. He emphasized the importance of collaboration between the NDDC and state governments, saying past tensions had slowed progress.
“Your Excellency, NDDC is not a government. It is an interventionist agency. We must always work with state governors if we want to succeed,” Ogbuku said.
The NDDC has ongoing projects in Edo State, including erosion control, ecological interventions, and internal roadworks at Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, and Edo State Polytechnic, Usen.
Officials present at the meeting included Deputy Governor Dennis Idahosa, Secretary to the State Government Umar Musa Ikhilo, Chief of Staff Alhaji Gani Audu, Chairman of the House Committee on Sports Hon. Okogbe Donald, and Edo State Sports Commission Chairman Amadin Desmond Enabulele.
With Edo’s advanced sporting infrastructure and renewed regional cooperation, the February festival is expected to attract athletes from Delta, Rivers, Bayelsa, and other Niger Delta states, positioning the state as a hub for sports excellence in the region.
NIM
