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.

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.

Renowned Nigerian photojournalist, Jimoh Otisoro, has honoured the Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for Sports, Elder Paul Bassey, and the Chairman of Ibom Angels FC, Prince Ukeme Ukpong, with souvenirs in appreciation of their support during his coverage of the recently concluded Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco, Caretaker News reports.

Otisoro presented the souvenirs at the Uyo Township Stadium during the Nigeria Women Football League (NWFL) match between Ibom Angels and Ekiti Queens, which ended 2–1 in favour of the home side.

While presenting the items, Otisoro spoke warmly about the support he received from Elder Paul Bassey, describing the Sports Commissioner as a consistent pillar of encouragement in his career. He said Elder Bassey once again played a key role in ensuring his participation at the AFCON tournament in Morocco, where the Super Eagles of Nigeria finished third.

He also shared a personal moment involving Ibom Angels chairman, Prince Ukeme Ukpong, revealing that he received financial support from him at the airport while preparing to depart for the tournament. Otisoro said the gesture brought him great joy and further motivated him during the competition.

In another message shared online, Jimoh Otisoro wrote “Acknowledgement and Appreciation to All Contributors to My Success at AFCON 2025

I sincerely acknowledge and appreciate everyone who contributed in one way or another to my successful outing at the 35th edition of the TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations, Morocco 2025.

Although the names and identities are too numerous to mention, I must specially recognise the Honourable Commissioner for Sports, Elder Paul Bassey, whose advice and encouragement meant a lot to me. The able Chairman of Akwa United Football Club, Uyo, Mr Joseph Udo, also deserves special appreciation.

The generous and dynamic Chairman of Ibom Angels FC, Uyo, Prince Ukeme Ukpong, cannot be forgotten in a hurry. Likewise, Dr Chukwuekezie Bede of Akpabio United FC contributed greatly to the success of my outing in Morocco.

I also appreciate the Chairman of the Akwa Ibom State Football Association, Mr Samuel Umoh, for his kind gestures and support. His assistant also worked tirelessly in Morocco to ensure that all necessary achievements were recorded.

Hon. Clintong, as usual, contributed without hesitation. Hon. Idy, SA to the Governor, also came through as a pleasant surprise.

My thanks go to everyone who supported me through calls and messages across Africa and Europe. I apologise to those whose names were not mentioned, as this support will continue to be remembered even till the next edition.

Finally, I appreciate the Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Mr Nsibiet John.

Thank you all.”

The veteran photojournalist returned to Nigeria earlier this week after completing his assignment at the AFCON.

Jimoh Otisoro, born on April 5, 1975, is a CAF and FIFA-recognised photojournalist who is widely respected across African and global football circles. He began his photojournalism career after completing his National Youth Service Corps in 1992 and has since covered about seven FIFA World Cups and 14 Africa Cup of Nations tournaments, alongside several national and international sporting events.

At a recent football gathering in Lagos, it was jokingly said that anyone who has not passed through the lens of Jimoh Otisoro since 1993 may not yet qualify to sit among football stakeholders, a statement that reflects his deep influence in the sport.

Known for his lively sense of humour and friendly personality, Otisoro is famous for his trademark chants of “Sa Sa Sa” and “Elelele”, which he uses to put his subjects at ease before capturing his shots.

Otisoro is celebrated for his passion, consistency and selfless dedication to sports journalism. He remains a familiar face at international competitions, especially when the Nigerian national teams are involved.

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