It had long been stated that primary aim of a regional sports festival was to promote health, wellness, and teamwork through a variety of sports and physical activities hence organisers of the maiden Niger Delta Sports Festival (NDSF) could afford some cheery smiles after curtains were drawn this week on its first edition in Uyo . For Sir Itiako Ikpokpo, Co-Chairman of the Main Organising Committee for the NDSF, the festival was indeed more than a platform to offer trophies to successful athletes. He spoke with MORAKINYO ABODUNRIN…
For seven days this past week, Uyo, the Capital of Akwa Ibom State, was bursting at the seams as the usual calm city played host to the maiden edition of the Niger Delta Sports Festival (NDSF) under the auspices of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
Of course, regional sports festivals have emerged as vibrant celebrations of athleticism, community spirit, and cultural unity. These events not only showcase local talent but also foster a sense of belonging and camaraderie among participants and spectators alike.
Yet Sir Itiako Ikpokpo, Co-Chairman of the Main Organising Committee, would be the first to admit that the inaugural NDSF was a testament to meticulous planning, enthusiastic participation, and the unwavering support of the local community.
“Yes, it ( the maiden NDSF) is a game changer, and the effects are already being felt with the discovery of over 630 athletes across different sports ,” Ikpokpo who doubles as the Lead Consultant, Dunamis Icon, the Project Consultants for the NDSF, told NationSports hours after curtain was drawn on the first NDSF in Uyo.
Ikpokpo, admitted that the NDSF has offered the NDDC a veritable platform the opportunity of meeting one of the core values of its mandates and objectives , adding the management of the federal agency established in 2000 simply keyed into the vision behind the inauguration of the regional sports festival.
“Of course, the primary goal of the NDDC is intervention in infrastructural and human capital development,” Ikpokpo , the originator of the Local Government Sports Festival in Delta during his term as the chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON, further explained, adding the NDDC virtually provided all the funds needed to execute the successful regional sports festival.
He continued: “The board and management made it easy as intervention in sports is part of human capital development, which is already in their plan. So, it didn’t take much to really convince them.
“ The NDDC provided what we needed to execute the program. We also had an understanding with Nilayo Sports Marketing, and they marketed Premium Trust Bank.
“ It was for us, a gauge of how the private sector would support what we are doing and we are happy that Premium Trust Bank is showing the way. So we are not disappointed at all, rather we would have been if NDDC didn’t give us what we needed.”
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At the end of seven days of intense battles across 17 disciplines among athletes from nine states under the mandate of the NDDC, Bayelsa State made history as the overall first winner of the NDSF after they edged ‘fierce competitors’ Delta State and Edo State to second and third position respectively.
Yet Ikpokpo noted that all the states competed fairly even as he dismissed insinuations that some circumvented the rules of the festival by fielding ‘established athletes’ to compete against budding talents which was the characteristic objective for the NDSF.
“Those states and their athletes didn’t break any of the rules,” the frank talking Ikpokpo stated matter-of-factly. “The festival was not about winning.”
He continued, adding the NDSF was money well-spent by the NDDC: “ It (NDSF) was about getting talents, and we did. The attention is not really on the so-called established athletes.
“We have seen fresh talents take out so-called established ones now live, and school in America or Europe doesn’t qualify the person as an established athlete. In any case, we would make progress, and our vision will be clearer.
“The NDSF definitely was (money well spent by the NDDC) for sure. I am sure from the way we have totally rehabilitated the entire sporting infrastructure that we used in Akwa Ibom State, it’s evident that it was money well spent.”
According to Ikpokpo, the successful take-off of the NDSF in Uyo has certainly have a multiplier effects in the Niger Delta region given the enthusiasm by other states to host future festivals which organisers foresee could be a biennial event subject to the approval of the NDDC.
“ Only my employers, the NDDC, can take that decision (whether the future NDSF would be an annual or biennial event),” Ikpokpo further told NationSport. “We are just focused on the assignment on our table .
He continued: “ Edo State has openly make a bid to host the when the governor made his remarks at the closing ceremony. Ondo State too has hinted that it would want to host the next edition, and to us, that’s progress.
“It’s (NDSF) a product that will sell and integrate and produce more talents for our people. States will deliberately ensure they begin to add value to sports in their states .”
Pressed on his personal positive perspectives from the maiden edition of the NDSF despite some hitches in between of the festival.
“ When the event was declared open by the President of the Federal Republic, it was a high moment, no doubt,” Ikpokpo, the immediate past Director General of ALGON and Managing Consultant to Dunamis-Icon Limited, said with his habitual smiles. “ The stadium was beautiful, and the athletes were happy.
“ I really didn’t have any worst moments in all honesty even with the early morning protests about different issues, including allowances, because some started receiving earlier those who had received started going to the stadium.
“They obviously didn’t know that we had a policy of paying directly into the account of every athlete. Most names of athletes got in on Monday evening and payment was being made with the Remitta system to over four thousand people can be tedious but the chairman of the MOC Alabo Boma Iyayi went to the Athletes camp and carefully explained the process and from then on everything went smoothly.
“I had very great moments moving from event to event and seeing young excited people doing their thing,” noted Ikpokpo, the self-assured entrepreneur who currently run a consultancy firm called Crestpoint Consulting Limited, concluded.
