Niger Delta Games Return To Edo With Focus On Youth Talent

EVENT OVERVIEW & DEVELOPMENT ANGLE

EDO State is set to host the second edition of the Niger Delta Games, with about 3,000 athletes and officials expected from nine oil-producing states across the region.

The multi-sport event, sponsored by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), will take place in Benin City from 20 to 27 February 2026. Athletes will compete in 17 sports, including football, basketball, boxing and badminton, alongside other disciplines designed to promote grassroots sports development. Organisers have also planned a cultural night to celebrate the Niger Delta’s diverse heritage.

Speaking to sports journalists in Benin City, organiser of the games, Itiako Ikpokpo, said the competition was deliberately structured to discover and nurture young talents.

According to him, only athletes who are indigenous to the participating states and not older than 20 years are eligible to compete, in order to prevent age manipulation and ensure fairness.

Ikpokpo stressed that sustainable sports development must begin at the grassroots, particularly through schools and local government systems.

“We must go back to school sports to discover more young talents for the country,” he said.

He, however, expressed concern over what he described as the poor commitment of many state governments to sports development, citing low budgetary allocations and weak administrative structures.

Ikpokpo also condemned age cheating in Nigerian sports, describing the practice as shameful and damaging to genuine talent development.

He further urged the Nigeria Football Federation to consider the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City for international matches, noting that it meets global standards comparable to other approved venues.