George I. Essien

The Akwa Ibom State Liaison Committee for the Niger Delta Sports Festival (NDSF) has intensified preparations ahead of the 2026 edition of the competition scheduled to hold from February 20 to 27 in Edo State.

A strategic meeting, held on Tuesday, was chaired by the Chairman of the State Liaison Committee and Commissioner for Sports, Akwa Ibom State, Elder Paul Bassey, and brought together key stakeholders tasked with ensuring the state’s successful participation at the regional sports fiesta.

Members of the five-man committee present at the meeting included Coach Catherine Ekuta, Head of Technical; Mr. George Essien, Guinness World Record holder; Mr. Edidiong Stephen, member; and Mr. Mfon Bassey, Secretary of the Committee. The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Sports, Akwa Ibom State, Mrs. Rosemary Ubia also attended the meeting at the instance of the Chairman.

Discussions at the meeting centred on athlete selection trials, transportation and accommodation logistics to and within the host state, provision of kits, and overall technical and administrative planning to ensure optimal performance by Team Akwa Ibom at the festival.

Addressing the committee, Elder Paul Bassey stressed the importance of early and thorough preparation, noting that Akwa Ibom State is determined to improve on its previous outing.

“We must get our preparation right from the grassroots. The trials, the logistics, the welfare of our athletes — everything must be properly planned if we are to compete effectively and represent Akwa Ibom State with pride,” the Commissioner said.

The Commissioner also lauded the organisers of the Niger Delta Sports Festival, Dunamis Icon, led by Sir Itiako Ikpokpo, and praised the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) for its sustained support of what he described as the biggest regional sports competition in the Niger Delta.

“We must commend the organisers and the NDDC for their consistency. This festival has become a major platform for talent discovery and sports development in the Niger Delta,” he stated.

Reflecting on Akwa Ibom State’s role as host of the maiden edition of the festival, Elder Bassey noted that valuable lessons were learned, especially as he assumed office as Commissioner just days before the event.

“When we hosted the first edition, I had just been sworn in three days earlier, so it was straight into the deep end. But that experience, alongside the National Sports Festival, shaped my early days in office and helped set the tone for my tenure,” he explained.

Secretary of the Committee, Mfon Bassey, also updated members on the NDSF retreat held last weekend, outlining expectations from participating states and detailing the key deliverables expected from the Main Organising Committee (MOC) ahead of the competition.

According to the briefing, emphasis was placed on adherence to technical guidelines, timely submission of entries, compliance with accreditation procedures, and close collaboration between states and the MOC to ensure a smooth and successful festival.

Key contributions were also made by other members of the committee, who drew from their experiences working in various capacities during the maiden edition of the Niger Delta Sports Festival to offer strategic input and direction ahead of the forthcoming edition.

The meeting concluded with a commitment from the Akwa Ibom State Liaison Committee to fine-tune all preparations starting with the state trails scheduled for this weekend, and ensure Team Akwa Ibom arrives in Edo State fully prepared and competitively ready when the Niger Delta Sports Festival kicks off.

Like other participating states, Team Akwa Ibom is expected to compete in 16 sports, featuring a contingent of 270 athletes and 44 officials. The sports include: athletics, football, basketball, volleyball, handball, table tennis, badminton, tennis, boxing, wrestling, judo, karate, taekwondo, weightlifting, swimming, and chess.

Super Eagles assistant coach Daniel Ogunmodede has paid tribute to Remo Stars owner Kunle Soname in a heartfelt appreciation letter, amid reports that his relationship with the club’s hierarchy has broken down.

In the letter, shared on his social media platforms under the title Appreciation, Ogunmodede thanked Soname for more than a decade of support. He described the businessman as a mentor who played a key role in his personal and professional development.

“You placed your trust in a young coach who was still finding his way, and you stood by that decision even when the journey was not smooth,” Ogunmodede wrote.

“Thank you for treating me not just as a coach, but as a son and a project worth nurturing.”

The message comes amid reports that Ogunmodede has resigned from his role at Remo Stars following internal disagreements. However, the club are yet to issue an official statement.

The 45-year-old has not been seen on the Remo Stars bench since their 5–1 defeat to Mamelodi Sundowns in the first leg of the CAF Champions League second preliminary round. He also missed the return leg.

Reports suggest that Ogunmodede’s frequent absences earlier in the season caused internal tension at the club. He missed more than 10 NPFL matches while serving as assistant to Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle.

He was also away with the Nigeria B team at the African Nations Championship and missed most of Remo Stars’ pre-season preparations. Ogunmodede only recently returned from the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco with the Super Eagles.

According to Athletic NG, Ogunmodede was increasingly sidelined during his time away. The report claimed that his assistant, Sulaiman Kamil Folarin, was warned against sharing technical details with him.

A reported tactical change from a back three to a back four formation, which Ogunmodede did not favour, is also said to have widened the rift.

Ogunmodede signed a three-year contract extension in August 2024, keeping him at Remo Stars until 2027. He has been a central figure in the club’s rise in Nigerian football.

He joined Remo Stars in 2015 and took charge of the senior team in 2020. In September 2021, he guided the club back to the NPFL after finishing runners-up in the Nigeria National League play-offs.

After a brief spell as assistant manager at Portugal’s CD Feirense in 2021, Ogunmodede returned to Remo Stars in 2022. He led the club to second-place league finishes in both 2023 and 2024.

On 27 April 2025, he made history by leading Remo Stars to their first-ever NPFL title. They became the first South-West club to win the league since Julius Berger in 2000.

Under his leadership, Remo Stars played 109 matches, winning 53, drawing 20 and losing 36, with 132 goals scored.

This season, however, their title defence has struggled. The Sky Blue Stars are currently 15th in the NPFL table, with 25 points from 21 matches.

Despite the uncertainty surrounding his future, Ogunmodede ended his message to Soname on a note of gratitude.

“Your influence will continue to have a lasting impact on my life. I am grateful for the limitless opportunities,” he wrote.

Organisers of the Niger Delta Games have praised Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, for his sustained investment in sports development in the Niger Delta and across Nigeria.

The commendation was given by the lead consultant to the Games, Dunamis Icon Limited, during a one-day pre-games retreat held on Thursday, 22 January 2026, at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City. At the event, Governor Eno was described as a model for sports development in the country.

Speaking at the retreat, the Managing Director of Dunamis Icon Limited, Chief Itiako Ikpokpo, Atanaru of Irri Kingdom, commended the Governor for hosting what he described as one of the best sports festivals in Nigeria.

He said Governor Eno has been deliberate in talent discovery and youth development, adding that Akwa Ibom State ranks highest in organisation, preparation and scouting ahead of the 2026 Niger Delta Games.

Chief Ikpokpo noted that Akwa Ibom’s level of readiness has set a benchmark for other participating states, especially after hosting a major sports festival shortly after the maiden edition of the Niger Delta Games.

He further explained that the 2026 Niger Delta Games is open to athletes aged 20 and below, who must be registered on the Delegates Registration Management (DRM) system and be indigenes of their respective Niger Delta states.

He urged state liaison secretaries to strictly follow the rules of the competition and focus on scouting talents from grassroots and rural communities, rather than using mercenaries. He warned that any athlete who fails accreditation and screening would be disqualified.

The pre-games retreat, facilitated by renowned scholar Dr Kalu Ukoha, featured interactive learning sessions on all aspects of the Games. Discussions focused on logistics such as arrivals, accreditation and screening, accommodation, security, feeding, medical services, facilities, as well as opening and closing ceremonies.

In his remarks, the Chairman of the Edo State Sports Council, Hon. Amadin Enabulele, welcomed participants to Edo State, describing the state as peaceful and assuring stakeholders of its readiness to host the 2026 Niger Delta Games in Benin City.

He described the Games as the biggest regional sports competition in Africa and welcomed all participants to the state from February 20 to 27, 2026.

Also speaking, the Board Chairman of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Mr Chinedu Ebie, commended Dunamis Icon Limited, members of the main and local organising committees, and state liaison secretaries for their efforts towards ensuring a smooth and successful event.

He said the Games should serve as a platform to discover and develop future sporting talents, while reaffirming the NDDC’s commitment to youth development, talent discovery and sports excellence in the region.

Mr Ebie added that, now in its second edition, the Niger Delta Games is well positioned to deliver a world-class sporting event that reflects the NDDC’s dedication to empowering young people and promoting excellence across the Niger Delta.

The 2026 Niger Delta Games will be held in Benin City, Edo State, from February 20 to 27, 2026, across four venues.

The Games will feature 16 sports, with 2,430 athletes, 404 coaches, 394 officials and teams from nine Niger Delta states competing for honours.

Officials at the retreat included management and staff of Dunamis Icon Limited, committee chairmen and state liaison secretaries from the nine Niger Delta states.