Sports

NDSF Scouting and Mentorship Committee targets next generation athletes

Published

4 months ago

March 5, 2025

Joel Ajayi

Scouting and Mentorship Committee of the inaugural Niger Delta Sports Festival (NDSF) is poised to discover and showcase the best budding athletes from the Niger Delta region during the event that will hold from April 1 to 8 in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State. So says its chairman, Godwin Enakhena.

The committee emphasized its commitment to unearthing talents that will replace Nigerian sports icons like Tobiloba Amusan, Ese Brume, Blessing Oborodudu, Odunayo Adekuoroye, Austine JJ Okocha and many others.

Aside discovering new athletes for Nigeria, the Niger Delta region will regain its position as the number one sports hub in the country. The Festival is more than just a sporting event. It is a platform for empowering the youth, promoting peace and unity, and showcasing the rich cultural heritage of our region. By participating in the festival, individuals are contributing to a brighter future for the Niger Delta. This is where passion meets opportunity, showcasing the region’s culture, empowering its youth, and uniting the region in celebration.

According to Enakhena “the committees primary responsibility is to ensure that the best athletes from the 17 sporting events that will feature at the festival are selected by a group of professionals comprising local and foreign coaches and scouts.

This Herculean task requires a collaborative effort to identify and showcase the region’s budding talents. The selected athletes will tell the story of the success of the inaugural Niger Delta Sports Festival and the talents that abound in the region.”

Enakhena who has successfully midwifed football and sports teams in Nigeria added that “the NDSF will afford the Niger Delta region the opportunity to regain its number one position in sports, not only as a reservoir of talents but to dominate sports in Nigeria like it used to in the past.

In carrying out this assignment, the committee will work as a unit, ensuring that standards are not compromised across board. Only the very best athletes will be picked and showcased to the world through the aid of technology and the invitation of foreign scouts to Nigeria during the event”, concluded the veteran sports journalist.

Enakhena commended the NDSF Main Organizing committee for appointing Nigerian sports icons like Nwankwo Kanu, Victor Ikpeba and Blessing Oborodudu to lead a strong field of accomplished athletes as the Festival Ambassadors to mentor and inspire the upcoming athletes.

Other members of the committee are Mrs Aniekan Ibezim, Engr. Uwanna Jacob, George Essien who will act as spokesperson, Anthony Alabra Ojo, Paul Omamomo and Victor Akpotha Fidelis.

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Sports

NSC Applauds Enugu State Govt,, as LOC for 23rd NSF is Inaugurated

Published

8 hours ago

June 19, 2025

The Gleamer

Joel Ajayi

Preparations for the highly anticipated 23rd National Sports Festival, tagged “Coal City Games Enugu 2026” have taken a significant leap forward as the Enugu State Government officially inaugurated the Festival’s Local Organizing Committee (LOC) on Wednesday in Enugu.

The Director General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Hon. Bukola Olopade, commended the Enugu State Governor, His Excellency, Dr. Peter Mbah for his swift action and commitment to hosting a successful festival.

“With the inauguration of this high-powered Local Organizing Committee, we are confident that the Coal City Games Enugu 2026 will raise the bar in excellence, inclusion, and legacy. The caliber of individuals on this committee reflects the seriousness with which Enugu is approaching this national assignment. The National Sports Commission is fully aligned and will provide all necessary support to ensure a seamless festival that inspires hope, talent discovery, and national unity,” Hon. Olopade stated.

The newly inaugurated LOC, chaired by the Enugu State Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Lloyd Ike Ekweremadu Jr, is composed of seasoned professionals with vast experience in sports administration, event management, and youth development. Their mandate is to deliver a world-class festival that aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, particularly in tapping into a growing sports economy as a vehicle for national growth and unity.

The members of the committee include:
• Bamiduro Olumide – Sports management expert and former national badminton champion (Secretary General)
• Mary Onyali – Olympian and former international sprint queen
• Aku Akazu – Sports lawyer and 2nd Vice president AFN
• Victor Okorie – Elite athlete and member of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria
• Blessing Chisalam Ekwe – COO of the Badminton Federation of Nigeria, FIFA-licensed agent
• Davidson Owumi – COO of the Nigeria Professional Football League, former GM, Enugu Rangers
• Tony Ugwu – Chairman, Enugu State Football Association
• Henry Chinedu Okorie – Nigeria Olympic Committee Executive Member, Chair of the Athletics Athletes Commission
• Jonathan Nnaji – President, Nigeria Modern Pentathlon Federation; VP, Africa Modern Pentathlon Confederation
• Boniface Onovo – Director of Organizing, Enugu State Ministry of Youth and Sports
• Ephraim Ochonma – Director of Coaching, Enugu State Ministry of Youth and Sports
• Obiora Obasi – Technical Assistant to the Honourable Commissioner

Furthermore, Governor Peter Ndubuisi Mbah outlined the State’s bold and transformative plan to ensure the success and lasting impact of the festival.

The plan includes the construction of a new Games Village to accommodate athletes and officials, remodeling of the existing stadiums into state-of-the-art facilities capable of hosting international competitions, as well as the development of additional sporting facilities across the state that meet global standards and support year-round sports development.

Governor Mbah also stated the plan to promote local content through prioritizing local contractors, vendors, and creatives before and during the festival to stimulate the local economy and celebrate Enugu’s cultural heritage.

The National Sports Festival, often referred to as Nigeria’s “Olympics,” is the country’s premier sporting event. The 23rd edition is expected to attract thousands of athletes from across Nigeria’s 36 states and the FCT, with Enugu poised to deliver a vibrant and unforgettable experience.

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