Sports

Niger Delta Sports Festival MOC set for inauguration

Published

4 days ago

February 16, 2025

The Main Organising Committee (MOC) of the maiden edition of the Niger Delta Sports Festival will be inaugurated on Friday at the headquarters of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) in Port Harcourt.

Sir Itiako Ikpokpo, who is chairman of the Project Consultant, Dunamis Icon, revealed that the inauguration of the Main Organising Committee for the sports festival comes in the wake of the inauguration of the state liaison committees for the nine states expected to take part in the festival.

Ikpokpo, who conceived the idea of the sports festival, further stated that facilities scheduled to play hosts to the event have been inspected and “work will start this week on facilities where there are challenges.”

He reiterated that the NDDC is ready to make the festival stands out and become a conveyor belt in talent production in sports from the Niger Delta region of the country.

“All the relevant committees have been set up after the Akwa Ibom State governor (Umo Eno) has graciously accepted to play host.

“The chairman of the Main Organising Committee is one of you, a three-time sports commissioner (in Rivers State) and currently the Executive Director, Finance/Administration of the NDDC, Alabo Boma Iyaye. I co-chair that committee that will be inaugurated on Friday (February 21, 2025). We’ve set up state liaison committees that are already functioning so as to ensure the process that will lead to the state trials. There is trials at the local government and state levels to produce competing athletes before the festival in Uyo.

“So we are getting set. Facilities have been inspected and work will start this week on facilities where there are challenges.

“We want the World to know that the NDDC is ready to take up more responsibility of producing top talents for Nigeria in the area of sports,” Ikpokpo said.

The maiden edition of the Niger Delta Sports Festival will be held between April 1 and 9 this year and will feature 17 sports

Share on Facebook

Sports

Stakeholders Ought to Project Nigerian Sports in Positive Light – NSC DG Olopade

Published

11 hours ago

February 20, 2025

The Gleamer

…Says projecting positive image is key to attracting and sustaining investments

The Director General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Hon. Bukola Olopade, has charged stakeholders in the sports sector to consistently project Nigerian sports in a positive light to attract the necessary funding and drive sustainable growth in the industry.

Speaking at the Sports Africa Investment Summit (SAIS), co-organized by the NSC and Sports Nigeria in Lagos, Olopade emphasized that the perception of Nigeria’s sports industry plays a crucial role in securing private-sector investment.

“Like international best practices, you don’t de-market a product you intend to take to the market because the perception of the product out there matters a lot.”

“As someone who has worked in the private sector for more than two decades, I understand why our sports have not attracted optimal private-sector investment. This is why, at the NSC, we are working to change the narrative with our Reset, Rethink, and Relaunch campaign,” he stated.

Olopade pointed out that top global sports institutions have thrived because they collectively built a positive image over time, ensuring strong brand perception among all stakeholders.

As a panelist at the Summit’s breakout session, Olopade also addressed the capacity gaps in corporate governance, administration, and management within Nigeria’s sports federations. He outlined key reforms introduced by the NSC under the leadership of Chairman Mallam Shehu Dikko, particularly in corporate governance structures.

“And I am glad to say we are already getting positive results from this because in Rugby where they now have a COO, they are already on the verge of security two Sponsorships and the President of the Nigeria Badminton Federation, Francis Obih, has just informed me of how impactful their new COO, Blessing Ekwe, was to the team at the recently finished All Africa Badminton Championship in Cameroon.”

Additionally, Olopade revealed plans to introduce dedicated Corporate Communications Units across all sports federations to enhance information management and strategic dissemination.

“Now, plans are underway to ensure all the sports federations have corporate communications teams for cutting-edge information management and dissemination,” he concluded.

The NSC’s commitment to reshaping Nigerian sports through strategic branding, governance reforms, and private-sector engagement continues to set a new course for the future of the industry.

Share on Facebook