Eko 2012: Delta, Rivers, Others Celebrate Victories

As curtains were drawn on the 18th National Sports Festival, NSF, tagged Eko 2012, on Sunday there were many celebrants celebrating different shade of overall victory at the Games.

Delta State, which garnered a total of 116 golds, 97 silver and 75 bronze medals to win the sports fiesta were in triumphant mood as it savoured the recapture of the sports festival title.

The contingent was joined by the state governor, Emmanuel Uduaghan for a thanksgiving service in Lagos before the closing ceremony on Sunday.

According to the Rivers State Sports Commissioner, Hon. Fred Igwe, Team Rivers did very well to finish second considering all the unfair treatment and outright victimization it suffered at the fiesta. Also, the fact that the state produced the meet’s fastest man to claim the 100 metres gold medal which he described as the king of athletics, was a cause for celebration.

He was full of commendation for the spirit and performance of Team Rivers.

Similarly, host sate, Lagos was celebrating its triumph in the football event.

Lagos state governor, Babatunde Fashola had declared during the closing ceremony that is state beat others to the most popular medals, the men’s and women’s football gold and deserved to be recommended.

Other states, such as Edo, Bayelsa, Cross River, among others were happy with themselves.

Some of the attendants who spoke in separate interviews said that they had not enjoyed such sales in recent times.

Sales Manager of S.O.O. and Bros Ltd., Arinze Okoli, said they had not enjoyed such sales in the last two years and lauded the Lagos State Government for staging such a memorable festival.

“We have not made good sales in the last two years as we had it during the festival. And it was very encouraging for our business,” Okoli said.

Sales Manager of VCN Sports Plaza, Kingsley Nwanosike, said that his company recorded a huge increase in sales, with a lot of customers besieging their shops to demand for various sports items.

“We recorded a significant increase in our sales; the patronage was very high because many people who came for the festival purchased some of their sports items from us,”he said.

A sales girl with Sebob Sports Ltd., Chioma Anyanwu, said that they made up to N100,000 daily from their sales during the 14-day fiesta.

“The festival had a positive impact on our business; we always made daily sales close to N100, 000 and above throughout the period of the festival,” she said.

The festival, tagged “Eko 2012,” which started on November 27, ended on December 9.