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 the state 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 feature a contingent of 280 athletes and 44 officials, competing in 16 sports. The sports include: athletics, football, basketball, volleyball, handball, table tennis, badminton, tennis, boxing, wrestling, judo, karate, taekwondo, weightlifting, swimming, and chess.
