21st National Sports Festival Set For a Fitting Climax In Delta

-

...As hosts Maintain Lead, Bayelsa Guaranteed Historic Second Position Finish.

By---Alambo Datonye Fred

After nearly two weeks of action, the 21st National Sports Festival, ‘Delta 2022’ reaches a crescendo tonight with a closing ceremony billed for the Stephen Keshi Stadium in Asaba to wrap up the spectacle.

Over eleven thousand athletes from the thirty six states of the federation and the federal capital territory have been competing for honors in 38 sporting events across venues in Asaba and other historic towns such as Ogwashi-Ukwu in Delta State.

Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare who visited some of the event centers to watch the Unity Games said the Festival has once more provided a platform for the discovery of the abundant sporting talents in the country.

Hosts , Delta State has proven over the years that it is the number one State in Sport in the country. Here in Asaba, the State has held onto an unassailable lead from Day one of the competition and is waiting to be crowned winners again. Commissioner for Information, Charles Aniagwu in an interview with Radio Nigeria gives the recipe for the success story of Delta.

One State that has surprised many here in Asaba is Bayelsa State which is looking certain to finish in second position for the first time ever in the history of the National Sports Festival. At the Edo 2020 edition, Bayelsa which has one of the smallest populations in the country clinched third position for the first time, and a year later has improved to second position. Sir Bravema Wodi, Director of the State Sports Council gives hints of the secret of the good performance..

 Meanwhile, President of the Nigeria Wrestling Federation, Daniel Igali who is also the Commissioner for Youth and Sports in Bayelsa State has advocated prompt release of medals table in subsequent national sports festivals.

For the Commissioner of Sport in Rivers State, though he is impressed with the performance of Team Rivers, he however decried what he termed the desperation of some other States to win at all costs through poaching of athletes.

In the meantime, the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria, SWAN held its National Convention in Asaba, Delta State on Friday which had Sports Journalists covering the ongoing 21st National sports Festival, the Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare, the Delta State Commissioner for Information, Charles Aniagwu and veteran sports journalists, Paul Bassey in attendance.

President of SWAN, Sir Honor Sirawoo while commending Delta State for its successful hosting of the Festival, urged all stakeholders, particularly Sports Journalists and Administrators to work in synergy to develop the nation’s sport.

Based on the official medals table as released at three o’ clock on Friday afternoon, Delta State have an unassailable lead with 450 medals comprising 229 gold, 149 silver and 72 bronze, Bayelsa are second with a haul of 234 medals made up of 97 gold, 73 silver and 73 bronze, Edo are third with 240 medals consisting of 31 gold, 36 silver and 41 bronze followed by Oyo, Lagos and Rivers in 4th, 5th and 6thas Zamfara are 37th with no medal while Borno are 36th with just two bronze medals.

The curtains come falling as the closing ceremony which takes place tonight is expected to feature presentation of trophies to the top three states, lowering of the festival flag and presentation to next host state, Ogun, fireworks and musical performances by popular Nigerian artistes including Zlatan, Erigga and Zoro

Popular posts from this blog

Umuahia North Stakeholders Forum Call on Mayor Ikeji to Run For Council Chair

-
Image
The leadership of Umuahia North Stakeholders Forum has called on the Mayor of Umuahia North LGA, Hon. High-Chief Victor Ikeji, Ph.D ( Kpakpando-Umuahia), to run for the local government chairmanship position in the forthcoming local government polls in Abia State. Speaking on behalf of the group, Chief Arthur Nwamara said, the group came to this conclusion after evaluating the performance of the Mayor since his appointment by Gov. Alex Otti. He opined that the Mayor has done well and has embarked on projects that cut across every nook and cranny of the council. He further stated that "it would be a great disservice to the people of Umuahia North if he does not return as an elected chairman considering his performance and track record." He added that the call became necessary, following the supreme court judgment and the statement by the governor recently, that local government election will be conducted in the state very soon.  "Gov Ot...
Read more

There is No Division in Umuyota, An Eze-Elect Has Emerged; Leaders of Umuyota Community Says; Warns Imposters

-
Image
The People of Umuyota Autonomous Community in Umuawa-Alaocha, Ohuhu, Umuahia North LGA has reacted to a press release purportedly signed by one imposter named Chikamara Metuh. In a press release signed by Mr. Bright Udeh the Youth President of the Umuokarafor Community, the community where both Mr. Adimchinobi Abraham and High Chief Sonny Uwakwe Nlewedim hails from has advised  members of the public to disregard the so-called press release trying to present the emergence of Chief Sonny Nlewedim as the Eze-Elect of Umuyota Autonomous Community in dispute. According to Mr Udeh "I am the youth president of Umuokarafor, who was unanimously elected by the entire youths of Umuokarafor, Mr. Chikamara Metuh, is not a youth president, nor an executive in Umuokarafor or Umuyota". His imposition clearly shows that the press release is a hatchet job aimed at misleading members of the public to believe that there is a division in Umuyota where there is none. Chief Sunny Nlewed...
Read more

Mayor Ikeji Calls on Umuahia North Indigenes/Residents to Take Advantage of Ongoing Job/Business Opportunities.

-
Image
The Mayor provides links to 11 ongoing recruitment and business initiatives and urged indigenes and residents of the council, especially youths, to take advantage of the initiatives. The links to these initiatives are provided below; 1. Student loan scheme nelf.gov.ng 2. Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) Initiative        pci.gov.ng 3. Consumer Credit Corporation          credicorp.ng 4. Digital and Creative Enterprises (iDiCE) program        boi.ng/iDiCE 5. Skill-Up Artisans Programme (SUPA)         SUPA.itf.gov.ng 6. Nigerian Youth Academy (NIYA)      NIYA.ng 7.  National Youth Talent Export Programme (NATEP)      natep.gov.ng 8.  Micro and Small Business loans https://www.boi.ng/micro-business/ 9.  Housing Initiatives       fha.gov.ng/ongoing-projec… 10.  NDDC INTERNSHIP SCHEME nyis.nddc.gov.ng 11.  Nano- Business Support ht...
Read more