Edo Clinch Niger Delta Games Crown, End 24-Year Wait in Dominant Home Triumph

Team Edo has emerged overall champions of the second edition of the Niger Delta Games, sealing a landmark victory on home soil in Benin City and bringing to an end a 24-year quest for regional supremacy.
In a gripping medal race that went down to the final day, the host state pulled clear of strong challenges from Delta and Bayelsa to finish top of the standings with an impressive haul of 52 gold, 34 silver and 25 bronze medals, amassing a total of 111 medals.
The triumph represents a defining moment for Edo sports, as the state surged ahead of defending champions Bayelsa to assert itself as a renewed powerhouse in Nigerian athletics.
Delta State finished second overall with 39 gold, 29 silver and 34 bronze medals for a total of 102, while Bayelsa placed third with 25 gold, 24 silver and 26 bronze medals. Akwa Ibom followed in fourth position with 16 gold medals among its 55 total haul. Abia ranked fifth with 45 medals, Cross River sixth with 38, Ondo seventh with 34, Rivers eighth with 44 medals but fewer gold, and Imo completed the table in ninth place with 31 medals.
Reacting to the historic achievement, the Executive Chairman of the Edo State Sports Commission, Amadin Desmond Enabulele, described the victory as a watershed in the state’s sporting journey and dedicated the success to Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo and his deputy, Dennis Idahosa.
Enabulele attributed the success to purposeful leadership, strategic planning and sustained investment in sports development, noting that the administration’s emphasis on athlete welfare, quality coaching and improved training facilities created the platform for excellence.
He stressed that ending a 24-year drought was the result of deliberate preparation, discipline and the resilience displayed by Edo athletes throughout the competition, adding that the governor’s strong belief in youth empowerment through sports had translated into podium finishes and renewed pride across the state.
The Sports Commission chairman also applauded the athletes, coaches, technical officials and support staff for their unity, focus and professionalism during the week-long festival, describing their performances as a statement of Edo’s return to the top tier of regional sports.
Beyond the medals, Enabulele noted that the Games once again underscored the power of sports as a vehicle for unity, peace and youth engagement across the Niger Delta, assuring that Edo would build on the momentum to establish sustainable structures capable of sustaining dominance at both regional and national levels.
The second edition of the Niger Delta Games featured over 3,000 athletes from the nine Niger Delta states competing across 17 sporting events. The festival, sponsored by the Niger Delta Development Commission, earned widespread praise for its organisation and competitive intensity.
With this commanding victory, Team Edo has not only reclaimed regional glory but also set a new benchmark for excellence in Niger Delta sports.