Niger Delta Games offers a glimpse into the future of Nigeria’s athletics

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Five days of hotly contested events of the 2nd edition of the Niger Delta Games (NDG) concluded with a funfair on Thursday, February 26 at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City, Edo State.

The host state topped the medal table of a national sports festival for the first time in a long time with 52 gold medals.

But that wasn’t the point of discussion as the delegates returned to their respective states. The discussion was more about the athletics events, particularly the final day of the competition.

From the first day when the 100m was decided to the last day of the relay show, it was fireworks and rightly so, because the Niger Delta area is a forest of athletics talent and has over the years produced some of Nigeria’s best players in local and international athletics competitions.

Delta State dominated the competition in Benin City despite strong challenge from Edo, Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom and Cross River States.

Delta State athletes won 13 gold medals mainly in sprints and relays, Edo had its success in the field events, while Akwa Ibom and Cross River shared the medals in the middle and long distance events.

“No one can compete with Delta State in athletics, they have a great facility that produces quality athletes every year,” said Mutiu Oluwa, Edo State Athletics coach.

“If other states like Edo can do what they are doing, then there will be a total showdown in future Niger Delta Games,” he said.

Just before the closing ceremony, Delta State left no one in doubt that they were untouchable by winning three of the four relay gold medals up for grabs.

It was Akwa Ibom State who, by winning the men’s 4x400m, prevented Delta State from making a clean sweep on the final day.

“The athletes gave everything they had, because everyone wanted to make a statement.

“This is good for Nigerian athletics. Considering the quality of the race and the running talents, the competition was very encouraging.

“This is just the beginning and I believe with many more to come, this country will boast many athletes in the near future,” said former Nigerian sprint champion Seun Ogunkoya.

Some of the star athletes who mesmerized spectators include Ejiro Peters who won a sprint double in the women’s 100 and 200 metres. He also won gold in the 4x100m.

Osama Chibueze also repeated the same for Delta State by winning a sprint double and the 4x100m.

In the 400 meters David Udoh of Cross River State. crashed through Delta’s pack, winning the men’s 400 meters, and also helped Cross River State win gold in the men’s 4×400 meters. Treasure Okereke had previously won the women’s gold and also helped Delta State win the women’s 4x400m.

Akwa Ibom’s Hephzibah Okon caused a sensation in the women’s 800 metres, but her quest for the double was put in check by Cross River’s Godsmind Eteng in the 1500 metres.

Among the men, Emmanuel Asuquo won. Treasure Omosivwe was practically competing with herself in the women’s high jump as she was able to match her personal best of 1.75m to win gold for Edo State.

“What we have seen here at the Niger Delta Games is quite encouraging, Nigeria, especially the Niger Delta region, is blessed with athletics talent,” said Mrs Joyce Bozimo, organizer of the Warri Effurun Peace Marathon.

“Our only wish is that there is a follow-up to these athletes.

“We can have a camp like we had in Afuze where they could be trained, guided and conditioned to become world champions.”

She also praised the organization of the events, which she said was excellent.

The chairman of the organizing committee, Sir Itiako Ikpokpo, who is also the president of the Delta State Athletics Association, was on hand to coordinate with the technical committee led by Enefiok Odo-Obong to ensure smooth running of the athletics events.

Ikpokpo said the Games Scouting and Mentoring Committee has been monitoring events at all venues and is expected to make recommendations on next steps. However, he encouraged states to also ensure that athletes deemed to have potential receive the support needed to blossom.

“All in all, Dunamis-Icon Limited and the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) do not own these athletes and we do not intend to do so. We have only provided the athletes with a platform to showcase their talent and it is the states and federal agency that have the responsibility to make them national and international champions,” Ikpokpo said in a press conference before the close of the games.

Proprietary rights to Niger Delta Games are owned by Dunamis-Icon Limited and sponsored by NDDC.