After a thrilling week of fierce competition between nine participating states of the Niger Delta in the maiden Niger Delta sports festival, Bayelsa State has emerged winner in the first edition of the competition as the state tops the final medal table.
Team Bayelsa ended the one-week competition with an haul of 42 Gold, 29 Silver, and 15 Bronze—a total of 86 medals.
Delta state came second, Edo, Rivers, Ondo, Akwa Ibom, Abia, Imo and Cross River States finished the competition in that particular order in the medal log.
Commenting on the feat, the Bayelsa State Commissioner of Sports, Dr. Daniel Igali, attributed the victory to the tireless months of planning, sweat, and determination and to the “committed leadership team, the Bayelsa Permanent Secretary, Grace Alagoa, Director of Sports Braveman Wodi, all management staff, coaches, sport staff, and the unstoppable athletes!”
He particularly thanked Governor Douye Diri, and his deputy, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, for their passion and investment in sports which he said have completely transformed the landscape in Bayelsa.
Igali also thanked the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, and the management team for the sports festival initiative.
