Akwa Ibom Strengthens Preparations for 2nd Niger Delta Games
As the countdown to the second Niger Delta Games gathers pace, Akwa Ibom State has stepped up its preparations with clear focus and renewed ambition.
On Tuesday, members of the Akwa Ibom State Liaison Committee for the Niger Delta Sports Festival met to map out final strategies ahead of the 2026 edition of the games, scheduled to take place from February 20 to 27 in Edo State. The meeting was led by the Commissioner for Sports and Chairman of the Committee, Elder Paul Bassey.
The gathering brought together key figures charged with guiding Team Akwa Ibom to a strong showing at the regional event. Present were Coach Catherine Ekuta, Head of Technical; Guinness World Record holder, Mr George Essien; committee member, Mr Edidiong Stephen; and the Secretary of the Committee, Mr Mfon Bassey. The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Sports, Mrs Rosemary Ubia, also attended.
Deliberations focused on critical areas such as athlete trials, travel and accommodation plans, provision of kits, and technical and administrative arrangements needed to support the athletes before and during the festival.
Speaking at the meeting, Elder Bassey stressed that careful and early planning would be key to improving the state’s performance at the games.
“We must start our work from the grassroots. Athlete trials, logistics, and welfare must all be properly handled if we want to compete well and represent Akwa Ibom State with pride,” he said.
The Commissioner also praised the organisers of the festival, Dunamis Icon, led by Sir Itiako Ikpokpo, as well as the Niger Delta Development Commission for sustaining what he described as the biggest sports competition in the region.
“This festival has grown into a strong platform for discovering talents and promoting sports development across the Niger Delta,” he noted.
Reflecting on Akwa Ibom’s experience as host of the maiden edition, Elder Bassey recalled how the event shaped his early days in office.
“I was sworn in just three days before the first festival, so it was a baptism of fire. That experience, along with the National Sports Festival, helped define the direction of my tenure,” he said.
Earlier, the Secretary of the Committee, Mfon Bassey, briefed members on the outcomes of the recent NDSF retreat. He outlined expectations for participating states and highlighted key responsibilities of the Main Organising Committee, including technical compliance, accreditation processes, and timely submission of entries.
Other committee members also shared insights drawn from their roles during the maiden edition, offering practical ideas to strengthen Akwa Ibom’s preparations for the upcoming festival.
The meeting ended with a firm resolve to fine-tune all arrangements, beginning with state trials scheduled for the weekend. The committee expressed confidence that Team Akwa Ibom would arrive in Edo State fully prepared and ready to compete.
Akwa Ibom is expected to take part in 16 sports at the festival, with a delegation of 270 athletes and 44 officials. The sports include athletics, football, basketball, volleyball, handball, table tennis, badminton, tennis, boxing, wrestling, judo, karate, taekwondo, weightlifting, swimming, and chess.
