Even as Team Rivers performed far below expectations at the just-concluded second edition of the Niger Delta Games (NDG) held in Benin, Edo State, Rivers featured the youngest athletes in the competition.

This is worthy of commendation and emulation: that the Rivers State Chess met the aim and objective of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), which majorly sponsored the games with the view to develop and discover young talents.

It will interest you to know that the aim and objective of the Niger Delta Games was to discover hidden and young talents from the grassroots.

The youngest athletes are Rivers State indigenes from the Okrika Local Government Area. They competed in the chess event. They are Gardiner Maxwell Koko, age seven, and David Maxwell Koko, age eight.

Apart from being the youngest athletes, they both won bronze medals, which assisted Team Rivers in not being at the bottom of the medal table.

Comprehensively, the chess team went home with seven medals: one gold medal and six bronze medals. The team actually made a statement in the present circumstances.

Those that won the medals are John Nwachukwu, who won one gold and two bronze medals; Obakpororo Saints; Onengiyeofori Jack; Gardiner Maxwell Koko; and David Maxwell Koko, who all won bronze medals.

The coach of Rivers’s chess team, Nnamso Umoren, said he is excited that his team was on the podium in the second edition of NDG, saying that there will be improvement in the next edition.

“This performance from my players has inspired me to prepare them ahead of the third edition on time.

“Honestly speaking, team Rivers will do better in the third than what we achieved in Edo State,” Umoren said.

By: Tonye Orabere

With 246 medals at the 15th Biennial Police Game (BIPOGA) in Asaba, Delta State, Zone 2 Command of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) came second behind the Force Headquarters.

While the zone won overall medals, it however was 13 gold medals behind the Force Headquarters, which won 103 gold while zone 2 won 90 gold medals.

The zone won 79 silver medals while the Force Headquarters won 65 silver medals. On the Bronze table, Zone 2 came first with 77 while the Force Headquarters won 75.

Umuahia came third with 44 gold medals, 26 silver and 23 bronze medals.

Out of the zones, Bauchi came 18th after ending the competition with zero gold, six silver and 15 bronze medals.

Speaking at the Zonal Command Headquarters in Onikan, Lagos, where he officially received the Zone 2 sport contingents, Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) in charge of Zone 2, Adegoke Fayoade, expressed optimism that some of the winners would represent Nigeria at the Olympics and do the country proud like Chioma Ajunwa.

“I salute our athletes for being good representatives”

It was as if we were not going to meet up when the competition was announced, however, despite the late preparation, our team excelled and made Lagos and Ogun proud.

“Coming out with the total of 246 medals, being the highest in the competition shows that we are the real champion. Even though the Force Headquarters came first with the highest number of gold medals, we still give kudos for our athletes for their outstanding performance. I have no doubt in my mind that the athletes in the Nigeria Police Force will represent Nigeria.

“I appreciate the immediate past Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun for allowing the game to continue and made sure this was a success. The Commissioner of Police in Lagos and Ogun State provided the logistics and support in other ways, and the chairman of the Local Organising Committee (LOC), Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) in charge of the Zonal Criminal Investigation Department (ZCID) for Zone 2, Olubode Fakeye for being with the athletes through the event. His presence motivated the athletes to attain the level. We thank God for safety.

“The next event is in two years and I am urging the athletes to start preparing,” he said.

Director General of the National Sports Commission, Bukola Olopade, says sports is not just about podium placement or, for a better word, winning, but is about passion sharing, community engagement, economic empowerment, social integration and the spread of a feel-good atmosphere.

“All of these are fully entrenched in the Niger Delta Games,” he said while declaring the 2nd edition closed in Benin City, Edo State, on Thursday night.

Olopade, who represented President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the closing ceremony, delivered a passionate address highlighting the broader value of sports to national development, youth empowerment and economic growth.

He described the Niger Delta Games as a living example of how sport can unify communities while stimulating local economies, adding that the Commission would continue to back the initiative.
“This is why I make a bold statement today that the National Sports Commission will continue to support Dunamis Icon and the Games,” he said.

Olopade emphasised that the vision behind the Games aligns strongly with President Tinubu’s commitment to repositioning sports as a strategic tool for youth engagement and national development.

“The father of the nation, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, has shown in so many ways his determination to use sports as a tool of empowerment and engagement with the most important demographic in our country, the youth,” he said.

“For the first time in this country, sport is being given its rightful position in government. The President did not stop at that. Just last week, in a meeting with the Chairman of the Commission, sweeping reform policies were approved. These reforms will ensure that sporting facilities are upgraded and equitably distributed across the nation, while also opening the door for increased private sector involvement in sports.”

“In the last one year, we have taken deliberate steps to collect data from sporting events organised across the country. The numbers show clearly that these Games are putting money in the pockets of our people. They are supporting small businesses, creating direct and induced jobs, boosting corporate sponsorship opportunities and creating visibility for host cities and states,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Chief Executive Officer of Dunamis Icon Ltd and lead Consultant to the NDG, Sir Itiako Ikpokpo, has revealed plans to increase the number of sports from 16 to 21 at the next edition.

Speaking to journalists at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City, Ikpokpo explained that the expansion would depend largely on the popularity of the sports within the Niger Delta region.

According to him, the vision of the games goes beyond winning medals, stressing that talent discovery remains the primary objective.

He noted that canoeing was removed from this year’s programme due to lack of equipment in participating states, while Taekwondo was introduced instead.

He emphasised that one of the key legacies of the Games is ensuring athletes welfare and proper organisation.

He called for a return to vibrant school sports and urged state governments to adequately fund coaches to drive grassroots talent identification.