Sports

Niger Delta Games Build-Up: Abia, Imo Fine-Tune Plans as Delta Holds Coaches’ Summit

Published

11 months ago

December 17, 2025

Niger Delta Games: Abia, Imo gear up as Delta holds Summit for Coaches
State Liaison Committees for the Niger Delta Games in Abia and Imo States already began functioning before they were officially inaugurated on Tuesday even as Delta State organised a working session with the 17 sports that would be competed for at the second edition of the games in Benin, Edo State from February 20-27, 2026.

Harrison Ocholor, the Secretary of the Delta State Liaison Committee met with the Coaches on Tuesday and charged them to ensure that only the best athletes were selected to represent the state from a fair and competitive state trials.

Ocholor told the Coaches that the organizers of the Games, Dunamis Icon Limited and the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has left no stone unturned in ensuring the process of selecting talents for the games followed the rules and regulations. He enjoined them to study and make effective use of the technical booklet for the games which was issued to each Coach during the meeting.

In Abia State, Sir Itiako Ikpokpo, the Co-Chairman of the Main Organising Committee inaugurated the State Liaison Committee and charged them to implement all schedules of the games from athletes registration to local government and state trials.

Represented by the Project Director, Fred Edoreh, the Dunamis Icon Limited boss emphasised the importance of abiding by the regulations set forth for the games and warned that “age cheat and failure to present the required number of athletes for each sport will lead to disqualification of any offending state”.

The Abia State Commissioner of Sports, Hon Ananaba Nwaobilor, assured the organisers and sponsors of the Niger Delta Games that the state is in total agreement with the objectives, rules and regulations of the Niger Delta Games, and would go the extra mile to maintain, promote and defend them in all processes of the 2nd Niger Delta Games.

Nwaobilor spoke at the Aba Sports Club in Aba, and described the games as having added impetus to the state government’s drive under Governor Alex Otti, to use sports as an instrument to emancipate talented youths in the state.

Nwaobilor who was represented at the ceremony by the State Director of Sports, Comrade Obioma George, said “Abia State is an ardent believer in the objectives, rules and regulations of the Niger Delta Games.

Our aim is to provide access to sports in all communities of Abia State, to discover and groom young talents and empower them unto successful careers in sports, and we thank the sponsors, the NDDC, and the Project Consultants led by Sir Malik Ikpokpo for initiating the Niger Delta Games”.

The Abia State Liaison Committee for the 2nd Niger Delta Games is chaired by the Commissiomer of Sports, Hon Nwaobilor, with Hon Onyebuchi Chukwu as Secretary, and Comrade Obioma George, Director of Sports, and Kingsley Kanu, Abia State interim SWAN Chairman as members.

In Owerri, where the Imo State Liaison Committee was inaugurated at the office of the Imo State Commissioner for Sports, Ikpokpo, the Atanaru of Irri Kingdom, also harped on the age limit for athletes and charged members of the committee to ensure massive mobilisation and timely registration of athletes on the Games’ official portal, stressing that only duly registered athletes would be cleared to participate. Ikpokpo was again, represented by Edoreh, the Project Director

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In his remarks, the Imo State Commissioner for Sports, Hon. Obinna Onyeocha, commended the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and Dunamis Icon Limited for initiating and sustaining the Games for two consecutive years, describing the championship as a credible platform for talent discovery and development in the region.

Hon. Onyeocha noted that the Niger Delta Games align perfectly with the sports development vision of the administration of Governor Hope Uzodimma, assuring that Imo State is fully prepared to participate and comply with all rules and regulations guiding the competition.

“It is the mandate of His Excellency, the Governor of Imo State, for us to go to the grassroots to discover talents, and these Games have come to help us achieve exactly that,” Onyeocha said.

“On behalf of the committee, I assure you that we will insist on quality, thoroughness, discipline and total compliance.”

The Imo State Liaison Committee is chaired by Onyeocha, with Hon. Willie Okolieogwo serving as secretary. Other members include the Director of Sports, Lady Justina Akpulo, and Kennedy Onwunali

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Sports

First Lady Tinubu Tees Off AACT 2026, Calls for African Women’s Unity

Published

8 hours ago

November 4, 2026

The Gleamer

Joel Ajayi

Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has urged participating African Ladies golfers to uphold sportsmanship, integrity, and African unity.

She spoke at the ceremonial tee-off of the 2026 All Africa Challenge Trophy (AACT) at the IBB International Golf and Country Club, Abuja.

Tinubu noted that the championship’s theme, “Uniting Africa Through the Greens”, reflected golf’s ability to transcend national and cultural boundaries while promoting friendship, sisterhood and a shared African identity.

She urged the participating golfers to compete with passion and integrity, adding: “To our remarkable female golfers, you are an inspiration to women everywhere. Play with passion, compete with integrity and let sportsmanship guide every stroke.”

The First Lady welcomed foreign delegates and participants, encouraging them to explore Nigeria’s landmarks, culture and hospitality during their stay.

Senator Tinubu commended LGAN President and Chairperson, Local Organising Committee, 2026 AACT, Dr Lami Onayi Ahmed, the Association’s executive council, and local Organising Committee for their efforts in bringing the continental championship to Nigeria.

She also commended the Ladies Golf Association of Nigeria (LGAN) for its initiative to introduce 300 girls to golf as part of AACT programmes.

Tinubu said the Girls in Golf initiative Legacy Project would create opportunities for young girls to participate in the sport and develop the next generation of female golfers.

“As a mother and advocate for women and girls, I commend the Ladies Golf Association of Nigeria for the Girls in Golf Legacy Project, which will introduce 300 young girls to golf across the six geopolitical zones in Nigeria and open new opportunities for the next generation,” she said.

She subsequently declared the championship open and performed the ceremonial tee-off.
Earlier, Lami Ahmed said hosting the championship for the third time was both an honour and a responsibility for Nigeria.

She said the tournament provided an opportunity to strengthen relationships among African countries through golf, despite differences in nationalities, languages and cultures.

“Though we compete under different flags, we remain united as one African family,” she said.
Ahmed described the Girls in Golf initiative Legacy Project as a major part of the association’s long-term commitment to growing the sport, saying it would expose 300 girls across the six geopolitical zones to the opportunities and values of golf.

She added that while the championship would produce winners, its lasting significance would lie in the friendships established, unity strengthened, and young girls inspired.

“As we begin this historic championship, let us remember the trophies will find their winners, but the friendships we build, the unity we strengthen and the young girls we inspire will remain our greatest victory,” she said.

Nigeria is hosting the continental women’s golf championship for the third time, bringing together female golfers from across 20 African countries to compete and promote the development of the sport.

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