***”We Are Ready To Rumble”, – Deputy Governor Declares***
By Patrick Ndubuisi
The Niger Delta Sports Festival torch which will tour the entire Niger Delta states has commenced, with Bayelsa, officially lighting the torch first, in Yenagoa, in the presence of athletes, coaches, sports administrators and other enthusiasts, as well as media practitioners.
This is as the Deputy Governor of the state, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, reaffirms the state’s readiness to be among the three states to mount the podium at the end of the games.
Director of Sports and Vice Chairman Bayelsa State Committee, Sir Braveman Wodi, lighted the torch at the entrance of the Samson Siasia Sports Complex, in company of the committee, coaches and athletes, and moved towards the main bowl of the stadium, where he handed it over to the Sports Commissioner, Hon. Daniel Igali, who in turn, presented the torch to the Deputy Governor, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo.
Receiving the Festival Torch, the Deputy Governor who gave thumbs up to the sponsors for the initiative, emphasized the importance of sports to the socioeconomic development of every society, including spoting raw talents, and engaging them into meaningful ventures.
Senator Ewhrudjakpo who represented the Governor at the brief event, stressed the priorities of the state to include education and sports due to the involvement of youths in both sectors, hence, Bayelsa’s active participation and dominance in almost all sporting events in the country, adding that the Niger Delta Sports Festival will not be an exception.
He said, “I wish to express the sentiments and emotions of Bayelsa State to the Niger Delta Development Commission for bringing out resources to sponsor this competition which is it’s maiden edition.”
“We believe that this sports festival will discover hidden talents across the Nigri Delta. For us as a state, sports is not just a festival but a tool for crime control and also a tool for empowerment of our youths and liberation of minds.”
To the athletes, he said, “Please be at your best, go and come back with victory, and for all that is needed to excel, be rest assured that your government will be there for you as usual”.
Sports Development Commissioner and Chairman State Committee, Hon. Daniel Igali, said the festival will give the Niger Delta states a sense of belonging in the realm of sports, and give the state enough grounds to prepare for the National Sports Festival.
On Bayelsa lighting up the torch the Commissioner said, “The Unity Torch started today with Bayelsa, which signifies the importance of the state in the Niger Delta and a good sign that we are noted in sports in the region and Nigeria at large.”
“We have seventeen sports, and we will be participating in all the seventeen sports in Uyo, and we are ready”.
Director of Sports and Vice Chairman Bayelsa State Committee, Sir Braveman Wodi, on his part stressed the importance of the Niger Delta Sports Festival, as it will further expose more talents, as well as use the games as a preparation for the National Sports Festival, adding that the government is backing the athletes and they will be storming Uyo with a mission, and that is to make the state proud at the inaugural edition.
Also present at the event was the representative of the Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Mrs Itekesi Walama, who added that preparations were in top gear, as the interventionist agency was ready to receive the nine Niger Delta states, in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom state capital.
