By Onyinyechi Nwankwo.
Not less than 600 under-25 athletes drawn from the 27 Local Government Areas of Imo State will be representing the State at the Maiden Niger Delta Sports Festival (NDSF), billed to hold on 1st to 8th April 2025, in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.
The festival being organized by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) in partnership with Dunanis Icon Limited, as consultant, will be bringing together over 3,000 athletes, 600 coaches and 300 media practitioners from the nine NDDC mandate states, which are Imo, Abia, Rivers, Edo, Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom, Cross river, Ondo and Delta.
During a world press conference at Dan Anyiam Stadium, Owerri, on Tuesday, the Commissioner of Sports and Chairman of Imo State Liaison Committee, which serves as the State’s Local Organizing Committee, Hon. Obinna Evaristus Onyeocha, hinted that the festival aims to promote talent discovery, human capital development and sports infrastructure in the region.
Onyeocha added that this laudable talent discovery project of the NDDC is aligning with the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Initiative and the vision of Governor Hope Uzodinma’s 3R Agenda for sports development.
Onyeocha noted that the selected athletes will be competing in the 17 featured sports including athletics, football, handball, basketball, volleyball, wrestling, swimming, weightlifting, table tennis, tennis, boxing, canoeing, cheese, scrabble, para-athletics, para-powerlifting and traditional wrestling.
While encouraging eligible athletes to take advantage of the opportunity and register for the festival which closes on 7th of March, Onyeocha informed that the state trials is scheduled for Tuesday, March, 4, 2025, at Dan Anyiam Stadium.
“Coaches from the 27 LGAs of Imo State, with their athletes, are requested to be at the Owerri Stadium before 9.00am that day.
“The Imo State’s Open Camp Begins On 17th March to 23rd, 2025 at Dan Anyiam Stadium, Owerri, while the Closed Camp begins on 24th till decamping on the 30th of April, 2025, thereafter departure to Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, follows on the 1st of April, 2025.” Onyeocha declared.
The number one sportsman in Imo, seized the opportunity to thank Governor Hope Uzodimma, who he described as Imo true father and leader for his immense support towards sports development.
Other members of the SLO including Hon. Willie T. C Okolieogwo, SA to the State Governor on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Secretary to the SOC and Dunanis representative also appreciated the Governor for backing the initiative, assuring to put in their best to make him and the entire state proud by bringing home from the sports festival the gold medal.
