Chiedu Ebie, Chairman of the board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has spoken of a future where talents discovered at the Niger Delta Games would be representing the country at international sporting events such as the Olympics, Commonwealth Games and the All Africa Games.
Ebie made a brief stop organised by Dunamis-Icon Limited for key persons involved in the organisation of the 2nd Niger Delta Games and endorsed the idea of holding sessions to review and project forward plans for a successful Games.
“The Board of the NDDC, we want to make the Games our legacy project, such that there will come a time in the future when we can have athletes from the Niger Delta Games representing Nigeria at international events such as the Olympics”, Ebie told the audience, comprising of some members of the Main Organising Committee and the Local Organising Committee.
Commending the leadership of Dunamis-Icon Limited, Ebie, who is a former Secretary to the Delta State Government, noted that, “when you want to institutionalise an event such as the Games, you have to hold such reviews to ensure that gaps are closed”.
In his welcome address to the NDDC Chairman, Sir Itiako Ikpokpo, KSM, the Managing Consultant at Dunamis-Icon explained that the retreat was the second to be organised to review the past Games in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State and correct mistakes and improve on the performance.
“We are working to connect the dots, ask ourselves hard questions and see how we will organise a richer Games”, Ikpokpo said.
Also present at the event was the Edo State Sports Commission Chairman, Hon Desmond Amadin Enabulele, who reiterated the state’s commitment to supporting the organisers to stage a memorable second edition.
The 2nd edition of the games will be held from February 20-27 for the nine states that make up the region.