Tag: the Niger Delta Sports Festival (NDSF)

In a groundbreaking move, the Niger Delta Sports Festival (NDSF) has joined forces with Foniso, a leading social sports platform, to revolutionize talent discovery and engagement in Nigeria.

The partnership is set to kick off with the upcoming Niger Delta Games, scheduled to take place in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, from April 1st to 9th, 2025.

This initiative is expected to  provide a dynamic digital space for athletes and organizations to gain increased visibility, connect with a global audience, and facilitate real-time updates, engagement, and networking opportunities.

Sir Malik Ikpokpo, Chairman of Dumanis Icon and promoter of the NDSF, praised Foniso’s vision, encouraging athletes to leverage the platform’s opportunities.

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“Digital platforms like Foniso bridge the gap between local talents and global opportunities, making it easier for athletes to gain recognition from international scouts and professional clubs.”

The development has also been hailed by the Scouting and Mentoring  Sub-Committee of the Festival, which is eagerly anticipating the games, excited to uncover fresh talents that will be showcased through the media spotlight.

Chairman of the committee, Godwin Enakhena, commended the timely initiative, noting that it will boost the chances of local talents being seen globally on a sports-centric platform.

With this partnership, the NDSF is poised to elevate sports talent discovery and engagement, ensuring that young Nigerian athletes receive the recognition and opportunities they deserve on a global scale.

Chairman of the Niger Delta Sports Festival (NDSF) Main Organising Committee (MOC), Alabo Boma Iyaye, has expressed satisfaction at the impressive build-up to the event scheduled for April 1-8 in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.

Iyaye, who is the Executive Director Finance and Administration at the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) spoke against the backdrop of spike in the online registration numbers and the unveiling of the festival mascot and Ambassadors in Owerri today.

Dunamis Icon, project consultants to the NDDC on the festival released updated figures in the registration indicating that over 15000 entries have hit the portal which closes today.

“I am personally happy and excited at the enthusiasm our youths have shown in embracing the very first festival being organised in the region”, the former Rivers State Commissioner for Sports told the NDSF Media.

He also commended the Organising Committee for creating talking points that have built huge awareness for the festival.

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“The festival has only been made public not quite three weeks but look at the numbers that has applied through the portal.

“I want to commend those charged with the organisation of the festival for a good job so far and it has gained traction through such innovations as the logo competition, the naming of festival Ambassadors and the planned unveiling. These are all add-ons that has made the festival a topic in online and physical communities”, Iyaye also noted.

In the latest figures released by the Technical Committee, Abia State tops the registration chart with over 2000 and are trailed by Bayelsa with 1410, Cross River with 1332, Ondo has 1278 and Delta with 1191. Rivers State has the least figure of 951.

Further data from the Technical Committee also show Athletics and Football attracting more entries at 2640 and 2579 respectively. Other high numbers are in Volleyball 934, Handball 877 and Basketball 694.

Only athletes who registered through the online portal would be eligible to participate in the local government and federal constituency trials leading to the states’ finals.

Nwankwo Kanu, Victor Ikpeba and Blessing Oborodudu lead a strong field of accomplished athletes appointed as Festival Ambassadors for the maiden edition of the Niger Delta Sports Festival (NDSF) holding between   April 1and 8 in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.

It was a major step towards accomplishing the aspirational value of the NDSF as envisioned by the organisers, Dunamis Icon, consultants to the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) for the project.

Announcing the Ambassadors, Itiako Ikpokpo, the lead consultant at Dunamis Icon, said the Festival Ambassadors were picked to inspire the upcoming athletes.

“What we have done is to take a careful look at past and present sportsmen and women from the nine mandate states of the NDDC who can inspire upcoming athletes with their achievements on and off the field,” Ikpokpo told NDSF Media.

The other six ambassadors are Efionwan Ekpo, Tamunosiki Atorudibo, and

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Patience Igbiti. The rest are Emmanuel Amuneke, Enefiok Udo-Obong and ⁠Seun Ogunkoya.

“The ambassadors cut across different sporting events and gender,” Ikpokpo who also is the Co-Chairman of the festival’s  Main Organising Committee (MOC) further explained

“The selection is intentional and meant to tell the young athletes that they can achieve greatness in any field whether they are male or female.”

They will be formally unveiled at a ceremony in Owerri, Imo State, on Friday, March 7, 2025.

Local government trials leading to each state’s team selection for the Niger Delta Sports Festival (NDSF) will commence on February 20 and end on March 3, 2025.

Co-Chairman of the Technical Committee for the festival, Eneifiok Udo-Obong, announced the date while also providing registration details and other programs of events for the maiden edition of the festival.

“We have already determined that the Festival finals will hold in Akwa Ibom State from April 1-8.

“Registration forms are being distributed to the States Liaison Committees that would supervise the Local Government and Federal Constituency trials. The forms can be obtained from LG, Federal Constituency, and Senatorial District headquarters of each member state,” disclosed Udo-Obong, an Olympics champion in 4x400m relay.

He further announced that the Organising Committee has fixed March 10 to 12 for state trials to select the contingents that will be registered from March 15 to 20.

Other pre-festival activities include a closed camping of registered states’ athletes and coaches from March 25 to 31.

“We are using this festival to prepare Niger Delta States for the National Sports Festival as we hope to use the NDSF as a springboard for the member states to select their very best and prepare them adequately for the national competition,” Udo-Obong explained.

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About 2,886 athletes are expected to compete for honours in 17 sports at the festival.

The maiden NDSF is open to the nine states that made up the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC). The states are Abia, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, and Delta. Others are Edo, Imo, Ondo, and Rivers.

The NDDC is the major sponsor of the festival, which seeks to spot and nurture sportsmen and women from the region to provide them platforms to express their innate talent through sports.