Edo sports has blossomed under Okpebholo – Sabina Chikere

By Oluwatobiloba Zeal-Adepetu Kumoye

Edo State, the heartbeat of Nigerian sports is moving stronger and at the center of the excitement stands a beaming Mrs. Sabina Chikere, Executive Director of Sports Development and Operations at the State’s Sports Commission.

With a wide grin and a voice brimming with gratitude, Chikere could hardly contain her joy as Governor Monday Okpebholo marked one year in office, a year she described as “monumental” for sports in the state.

“Edo has become a paradise of tranquility and progress, a safe haven for sports development,” Chikere said proudly, saluting the Governor’s steadfast dedication and the unwavering support of his Deputy, Hon. Dennis Idahosa.

In an exclusive chat with Zeal-Adepetu Kumoye, Chikere recounted a string of achievements that have turned the South-South powerhouse into a beacon of sport excellence.

Under Okpebholo’s dynamic leadership, Team Edo stormed the 22nd National Sports Festival in Ogun State, finishing among the top five, a feat that reaffirmed the state’s elite sporting status.

Edo’s dominance also stretched beyond national borders. Rising star Joy Nwabuzor made headlines as part of Team Nigeria’s victorious squad at the Africa Youth Scrabble Championship, later dazzling again on the world stage at the World Youth Scrabble Championship.

At the National Youth Games in Asaba, the state’s youth team fought valiantly to secure a bronze-place finish, another victory Chikere credits to the governor’s vision and investment in youth talent.

And if that wasn’t enough, the Heartbeat State celebrated yet another proud moment when Bright Idahosa, an Edo-born Scrabble maestro, was elected President of the Nigeria Scrabble Federation (NSF).

Two honourable sons of Edo State, Uyi Akpata, President of the Nigeria Cricket Federation, and Prince Kelvin Erhunmwunse, head of Nigeria Gymnastics, shared one mission, to make Nigeria believe in new sports dreams.

Uyi built cricket from dusty fields to stadium lights. Kelvin turned gym floors into launchpads for young stars.

Together, they inspired a generation that swung bats and soared through the air, proof that with passion and vision, Nigeria could conquer any sport and Edo State is the springboard.

For Mrs. Chikere, these milestones are only the beginning.

“Governor Okpebholo has reignited the spirit of sports in Edo. His love and commitment have changed the narrative and the results speak for themselves,” she declared.

As the applause grows louder across Nigeria’s sporting circles, one thing is clear, under Governor Okpebholo’s watch, Edo isn’t just the Heartbeat of the Nation. It’s the pulse driving Nigerian sports forward.