Gov. Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom has expressed the willingness of the state to ensure quality hosting of the maiden edition of the Niger Delta Sports Festival.
Eno said this on Friday when a delegation of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) led by its Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, paid a courtesy visit on him in Uyo.
The governor noted that sports remained a veritable source of strengthening the existing bonds, amongst Niger Delta states and its people.
He conveyed the gratitude of the government and people of the state for the visit and particularly for the choice of Akwa Ibom as venue for the first-ever Niger Delta Sports Festival.
Eno assured the visitors that the state would set up a working team to drive the process with the NDDC team toward ensuring a successful festival.
He expressed optimism that the sports festival, beyond fostering unity and collaboration, amongst the component states of the region, would launch talents in the region to limelight and boost the local economy.
Earlier, Ogbuku said the regional commission was a common identity that showcased the beauty in its diversity as well as the shared needs of the people of the area.
He said that beyond infrastructure development of the area, the commission had resolved to further foster unity and promote the abundant sports talents in the region by initiating a regional sports festival.
The NDDC managing director said that the unanimous adoption of Uyo as venue for the event by the board was occasioned by the serenity of the state and availability of requisite infrastructure.
Ogbuku said that the event is scheduled to hold from April 1 to 8 to commemorate the commission’s 25th anniversary.
“It is not only because Akwa Ibom is the Promise Land but Akwa Ibom has also been able to provide the right facilities to accommodate the 20 sporting events that we are putting together for the Niger Delta Sports Festival.
“So, the Goodwill Akpabio International Stadium is the venue for this sports festival.
“So, we are here to let you know that we the Board, Management and staff of the NDDC came together to say, we are giving the hosting right of the maiden edition of the Niger Delta Sports Festival to Akwa Ibom, ” he said.
Ogbuku said that athletes, sports lovers and stakeholders across the nine states of the region were expected to converge in Uyo, for the one-week festival.