By Oluwatobiloba Kumoye and Mishael Emmanuel
The Executive Director, Sports Development and Operations at the Edo State Sports Commission (ESSC), Mrs. Sabina Chikere, has reaffirmed that the Niger Delta Games were deliberately designed as a platform for grassroots talent discovery and long-term athlete development.
Speaking on the vision behind the competition, Mrs. Chikere described the Games as a structured pathway to identify promising young athletes across the region and groom them into future national and international champions.
According to her, the objective is clear — to make the Niger Delta a benchmark for sports development in Nigeria — a model other regions can emulate.
“So far, so good, it’s been going well. From the beginning, we made it clear that the Niger Delta Games would serve as a breeding ground. We want to discover new talents; we want to develop our own athletes. That is one of the core essences of the Games,” she said.
She explained that the Under-20 format of the competition was intentional, noting that early exposure and structured nurturing are critical in building a sustainable pipeline of elite performers.
“This is an under 20 competition, because we discovered that we don’t really have so many top tier athletes out there. So this is an opportunity for each of the states in the region to be able to develop their athletes and with this we want to stand out in the country, so that other regions can emulate what is happening in the Niger Delta. We are going into the hinterlands, identifying raw talents, and developing them to elite level,” she added.
Mrs. Chikere further stressed that the success of the initiative hinges on unity of purpose among stakeholders. She underscored teamwork, dedication, and shared responsibility as the driving forces behind delivering a world-class sporting event.
“It’s about teamwork and dedication. We work together and see ourselves as one. Everyone contributes ideas — you bring yours, I bring mine. When each person adds a little, before long the bucket is full. Collective effort, hard work, and dedication — that’s what it takes to deliver a world-class event.”
Her remarks encapsulate the broader philosophy of the Niger Delta Games — development over desperation among stakeholders, investment in youth, and a shared commitment to building a sporting identity that commands national respect.
