Prince Vincent Okumagba, Interim Chairman of the Unify Nigeria Supporters Club and Vice Chairman of the African Football Supporters Association, has hailed the organizers of the upcoming Niger-Delta Games (NDG) as “brilliant minds” with a visionary approach to sports development.
The inaugural event, sponsored by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), is slated for April 1-8 and will feature 3,000 athletes aged 16-25 from the nine Niger Delta states—Akwa Ibom, Delta, Edo, Rivers, Cross River, Bayelsa, Ondo, Abia, and Imo—competing across 17 sports.
Speaking on the initiative, Prince Okumagba praised the NDG as a groundbreaking platform designed to unearth and nurture future global sports stars. “The initiators of the Niger-Delta Games are capable of thinking out of the box to develop sports,” he said, highlighting the event’s potential to benefit both athletes and local businesses in Akwa Ibom, where the games will be held. He described the NDG as a “local mini-Olympic games” with far-reaching impa
Okumagba urged participating states to seize the opportunity to prepare their homegrown talent for the National Sports Festival, emphasizing the importance of developing indigenous athletes. “This is not about buying athletes from other states to win medals,” he cautioned, “but an opportunity to feature your own who will make your state proud locally and internationally.
“The Unify Nigeria Supporters Club chairman also lauded the leadership of the National Sports Commission, specifically Alhaji Shehu Dikko and Hon. Bukola Olapade, for their relentless efforts in advancing sports across the country
.With its focus on Niger Delta heritage and young talent, the NDG promises to be a thrilling showcase of athletic prowess and a stepping stone for the region’s athletes to shine on the world stage.