The Project Director of the 2026 Niger Delta Games, Fred Edoreh, has inaugurated the Ondo State liaison committee to prepare for the second edition of the multi-sport event, scheduled to be hosted by Edo State in 2026.
Speaking during the inauguration in Akure on Thursday, Edoreh noted that lessons learned from the inaugural edition held in Uyo will guide improvements in athlete welfare, venues, ceremonies, and general coordination.
Organized by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), the games aim to uncover grassroots sporting talents across the region. Unlike the open-age first edition, the 2026 competition will be restricted to Under-20 athletes.
Edoreh emphasized that athletes must be natives of the states they represent and must register online from the preliminary stage.
The Ondo State liaison committee is chaired by the Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Segun Omoyofunmi, with former General Manager of the State Sports Council, Henry Babatunde, as Secretary.
Other members include the ministry’s Director of Sports, Evelyn Lebi; veteran sports journalist Akintunde Akinsemola; and the Ondo State Chairman of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), Segun Giwa.
In his response, Omoyofunmi pledged that Ondo State would present a 270-member contingent and compete in all 17 sports at the games. He stressed the committee’s commitment to discovering new talents rather than relying on established athletes.
“We must visit all communities to scout for fresh athletes. It’s time to stop over-relying on established athletes. We need new athletes who can deliver the results we desire,” Omoyofunmi said.
The NDDC has positioned the games as a sustainable platform for youth development and talent exposure in the Niger Delta region.
