Sports authorities across the Niger Delta have been urged to use the Niger Delta Games as a foundation for sustainable athlete development rather than a short-term medal hunt.
This charge was given during the screening of Akwa Ibom State athletes at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium, where Braveman Wodi, who led a four-man screening panel, stressed that the Games were designed primarily to uncover and nurture young talents capable of evolving into future national and international stars.
According to Wodi, the success of the competition should be measured not by the volume of medals won but by the quality of athletes discovered and prepared for higher levels of competition.
“Our focus must be on building athletes for tomorrow, not chasing medals today. That is the true essence of the Niger Delta Games,” he said.
Speaking to journalists after the exercise, Wodi explained that the screening was aimed at verifying eligibility and ensuring fairness among competitors, while reinforcing the Games’ broader goal of grassroots sports development and structured talent identification across the region.
He commended the Akwa Ibom State Liaison Committee for presenting athletes who met all participation criteria and also praised the organisers the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and Dunamis-Icon Limited for sustaining a platform that exposes young athletes to competitive standards.
“The Games provide a vital bridge for young talents to transition smoothly into national and international sporting opportunities when they arise,” he added.
More than 250 athletes from Akwa Ibom State were screened and cleared following successful pre-Games trials ahead of the second edition of the Niger Delta Games, scheduled to hold in Edo State from February 20 to 27.
Wodi, alongside screening committee members Lawrence Etta, Moses Ettagbor and Nze Tonnex Chukwu, reiterated that eligible athletes must be registered on the Games’ portal, be bona fide indigenes of their respective states, be under 20 years of age, and must not be current or former professionals in any sport.
The screening delegation was received by the Chairman of the Akwa Ibom State NDG Liaison Committee and Commissioner for Sports, Elder Paul Bassey, alongside committee members, directors of the Ministry of Sports, head coaches of the 16 featured sports and their assistants, as well as members of the media.
