Screening Drive Earns Applause as Niger Delta Games Tighten Youth Policy

Dunamis Icon Limited, organisers of the Niger Delta Games, have received commendation from members of the Games’ Athletes Screening Committee for insisting on a rigorous, pre-competition screening process across the nine participating states.
The Screening Committee, led by Braveman Wodi, has been on a state-by-state tour to assess athletes ahead of the second edition of the Games. Following the exercise in Imo State, committee member Anthony Chukwu, popularly known as Tonnex Chukwu, praised the organisers for what he described as a bold and forward-thinking initiative aimed at restoring credibility to grassroots sports in the region.
With the Games scheduled to begin in Benin City, Edo State, on February 20, all athletes are required to undergo mandatory screening in their respective states, a move designed to ensure that only genuinely qualified young talents take part in the competition.
Speaking after the Imo State screening exercise in Owerri, Chukwu said the process has reinforced the core objectives of the Niger Delta Games.
“I want to first of all commend the organisers. The idea of pre-competition screening is very thoughtful and enlightening,” he said in a chat with NDG Media.
He specifically applauded Dunamis Icon and its Chief Executive, Itiako Ikpokpo, for prioritising youth development and regional identity in sports.
“He made it clear that the goal is to rejig sports in the Niger Delta by ensuring that athletes who represent the region at festivals and international competitions truly come from here. That was why the age bracket was lowered. Discovering and developing young athletes is the only way we can sustainably benefit in the long run,” Chukwu noted.
According to him, the screening exercise across various centres in Imo State revealed commendable efforts by coaches in grooming authentic young athletes for the Games.
He, however, stressed that the overall success of the Niger Delta Games rests heavily on the integrity and commitment of coaches.
“The coaches are very critical to this process. They are the first point of contact with these athletes. If a coach presents a 30-year-old as a 15-year-old, such an athlete will not last when exposed at the big stage,” he warned.
Chukwu expressed optimism that the 2026 edition of the Games would be a significant improvement on the maiden edition, producing younger athletes capable of representing the Niger Delta and Nigeria in the future.
All nine Niger Delta states are expected to participate in the second Niger Delta Games, which will take place in Edo State from February 20 to 27, 2026.