The Governor of Edo State, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has commended the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) for offering the state the hosting rights of the 2026 Niger Delta Sports Festival.

Senator Okpebholo gave the commendation when the NDDC Managing Director, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, led a team of the Commission’s officials, including the NDDC Executive Director of Finance and Administration, Alabo Boma Iyaye, the Edo State Representative on the Board of the Commission, Hon. Patrick Aisoweiorem, and other Directors, on a courtesy visit to the Government House, Benin City.

Governor Okpegholo acknowledged the achievements recorded by the NDDC in recent times, noting a positive turnaround in the execution of projects in Edo State.

The Governor said the Niger Delta Sports Festival would harness the youth's potential, promote unity and community development in the Niger Delta region.

He commended the NDDC for initiating the sports festival, which he said had provided a platform to bring young sports talents from the region together. According to him, “this praiseworthy initiative would foster youth development, promote peace, and contribute to economic growth.”

In his remarks, the NDDC Managing Director, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, affirmed that the Commission was engaging all stakeholders to ensure harmony and cooperation in the development of the Niger Delta region.

Ogbuku urged state governors in the Niger Delta region to increase their collaboration with the NDDC to promote economic and sustainable development in the oil-rich region.

The NDDC boss restated the importance of stakeholder engagements, which he noted was a key pillar of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda. He observed that events like sports festivals were not just about competition but also about unity, development, and the discovery of homegrown talents.

Ogbuku stated: “We are all united by a common problem, such as environmental challenges. We should leverage on sports as a uniting factor.”

The Managing Director noted that previous partnerships had been very beneficial to the Niger Delta region. He recalled that the NDDC successfully executed the 27.5-kilometre Ogbia-Nembe Road, constructed in collaboration with Shell Petroleum Development Company, SPDC.

He noted that the Commission recently completed the emergency reconstruction of the Irrua-Ewu-Agbede Road in Uhunwonde/Esan West Local Government Area of Edo State.

Ogbuku explained that the Irrua-Aviele project would link up with the Benin-Irrua road project being executed by the Federal Ministry of Works.

He acknowledged the contributions of the Minister of Regional Development, Engr. Abubakar Momoh, describing him as an excellent motivator for many achievements recorded by the NDDC.

Also speaking, the Executive Chairman of the Edo State Sports Commission, Mr. Desmond Enabulele, said that the state was peaceful and rich in culture. He thanked the state governor for his massive support for sports development in the state.

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