The Executive Director, Sports Development and Operations at the Edo State Sports Commission, Sabina Chikere, has reaffirmed that the Niger Delta Games were deliberately conceived as a long-term platform for grassroots talent discovery and sustainable athlete development.
READ ALSO: Kun Khalifat FC Appoints Udemezue Josiah Emmanuel as Sporting Director
Speaking on the vision driving the competition, Mrs. Chikere described the Games as a structured pathway designed to identify promising young athletes across the Niger Delta and nurture them into future national and international champions.
According to her, the objective is unambiguous: to position the Niger Delta as a benchmark for sports development in Nigeria and 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.
Mrs. Chikere explained that the Under-20 format of the competition was intentionally adopted, stressing that early exposure and structured nurturing are essential to building a sustainable pipeline of elite athletes.
“This is an under-20 competition because we discovered that we don’t really have so many top-tier athletes out there. This gives every state in the region the opportunity to develop its athletes.
We want the Niger Delta to stand out in the country, so that other regions can emulate what is happening here. We are going into the hinterlands, identifying raw talents, and developing them to elite level,” she added.
She further emphasized that the success of the Games depends largely on unity of purpose among all stakeholders, highlighting teamwork, dedication, and shared responsibility as the pillars for 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 reflect the broader philosophy underpinning the Niger Delta Games: prioritising development over desperation, investing in youth, and fostering a shared commitment to building a strong sporting identity that commands national respect.
