Team Bayelsa stun Delta, Edo to win maiden Niger Delta Sports Festival
In a surprise outcome that defied expectations, Team Bayelsa emerged as the overall champions of the inaugural Niger Delta Sports Festival, edging out traditional powerhouses Delta and Edo States in a thrilling contest held in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital. The week-long festival, sponsored by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), featured athletes from […]
team bayelsa emerged champions of the maiden edition of the niger delta sport festival hosted in akwa ibom state
In a surprise outcome that defied expectations, Team Bayelsa emerged as the overall champions of the inaugural Niger Delta Sports Festival, edging out traditional powerhouses Delta and Edo States in a thrilling contest held in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital.
The week-long festival, sponsored by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), featured athletes from the nine Niger Delta states competing across multiple disciplines. It delivered fierce rivalries, exceptional talent, and dramatic finishes — none more so than the gold medal race between Bayelsa and Delta.
At the end of the competition, Bayelsa topped the medal table with 42 gold, 29 silver, and 15 bronze medals, totaling 86 medals. Just one gold medal separated them from Delta State, which finished a close second with 41 gold, 26 silver, and 32 bronze — the highest overall medal count at 99.
Edo State secured third place with 23 gold, 35 silver, and 31 bronze medals, bringing their total to 89. Rivers State followed in fourth place with 63 medals (21 gold, 16 silver, and 26 bronze), while Ondo came fifth with 43 medals. Hosts Akwa Ibom placed sixth with 37, Abia seventh with 32, Imo eighth with 42, and Cross River rounded out the standings with 31 medals.
Bayelsa’s victory is expected to energize sports development within the state. Commissioner for Sports Development, Dr. Daniel Igali, lauded the athletes, praising their resilience and attributing the win to their determination and the state government’s support. He noted that the triumph sets the tone for Bayelsa’s preparations ahead of the National Sports Festival, “Gateway 2025,” to be held in Ogun State from May 16–30.
Vice Chairman of the Bayelsa State Athletics Association, Dr. Kolawole Oredipe, also expressed pride in the team’s performance, describing it as proof that the state is making significant progress in developing young athletes. He emphasized that the Niger Delta Sports Festival served as a crucial preparatory ground for the upcoming national event.
The success of the maiden festival has sparked excitement and raised hopes for even greater achievements in future editions, with growing calls for the next event to build on the momentum and legacy established in Uyo.