Today, we have the honour, privilege and joy to welcome you very distinguished athletes, officials and indeed the entire sporting community to our beloved Rivers State, as we very proudly showcase our welcoming, refreshing, and dynamic culture.

I must thank the National Sports Commission, the Federal Ministry of Sports, and our very own President for bringing the games to Rivers State a second time. It is a rare privilege and one, which we cherish most dearly. Rivers State as host of the l7 National Sports festival joins the league of states that have hosted the festival more than once.

The National Sports Festival was conceived as a balm to soothe the psyche of a nation much traumatised by a war. Before then, there hadn’t been no sporting platform that brought Nigerians together in the sense of being Nigerians. Yes, there were regional porting competitions as well as inter collegiate competitions but none of these took into cognisance the very essence of our nation —as captured in the nation’s first national anthem – “though tribe and tongue may differ, in brotherhood we stand”

Today more than ever, there is an urgent need to reinforce those values that the founding fathers of our nation and indeed this festival held so dearly.

Sporting events like the NSF provide the appropriate platform to reinforce and even build on these values. The keen competition, sportsmanship and camaraderie at these games are the fuel on which our youth can run very long distances. We must galvanize these potentials and must develop our sports in order to provide the right opportunities for our people. Truly we must redirect the energies of our people towards self-development as a precondition for the development of our country.

Since its inception in 1973, therefore, the National Sports Festival has remained a beacon and a reminder of our common destiny. With its twin objectives of promoting mass participation in amateur sports from the grassroots level and encouraging sportsmanship and friendly interaction, the National Sports Festival is a definite tool for strengthening our nationhood.

And Rivers State is proud to again help foster this unity. When we hosted the games in 1988, we raised the bar and set standards that I can proudly say no one has been able to beat. As we host the games again, we are mindful of the fact that we can only do better. It is this spirit and the desire to that propelled us to embark on the building of a brand new stadium for these games. The Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium complex, in the Greater Port Harcourt City is indeed a phenomenal facility, the first of its kind in our nation, and we are delighted that we are able to showcase a bit of this magnificent infrastructure during these games.

Even more, we would wish to use this auspicious occasion to invite everyone: the National Sports Commission, Federations, corporate organisations, and even schools to please come again and again to make use of this world class facility. I can assure you that what we have is a great offering.” But today is not about us. It is about you great Nigerians, the talented athletes many who might become the new discoveries that will change the face of our sports on national, continental and international levels. As you participate in the games, we encourage you to also find time to go round our city. If you haven’t yet done so, let me invite you to make the most of the legendary Port Harcourt nightlife and our most tasteful seafood cuisine, known for its ability to keep our people fresh and beautiful as even Mr. President himself will attest.

Once more, Your Excellencies, distinguished athletes, officials, ladies and gentlemen, it is with great delight that I very warmly, welcome you to the Garden City of Port Harcourt, capital of Rivers State, Nigeria’s Treasure Base.

O bosa no, A nu biala, Waa lua, A nua