…Ikpokpo, Okolieogwo Back Review Retreat for Edo 2026
By Onyinyechi Nwankwo
Chairman of the Board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Mr. Chiedu Ebie, has projected the Niger Delta Games as a long-term talent development platform capable of producing athletes who would represent Nigeria at the Olympic Games in the near future.
The NDDC boss spoke during a strategic review retreat organised by Dunamis-Icon Limited for key stakeholders involved in the planning of the second edition of the Niger Delta Games, as part of efforts to consolidate gains from the maiden event and strengthen preparations for Edo 2026.
According to him, the Games must be deliberately positioned as a legacy project capable of producing world-class athletes who can compete at platforms such as the Olympics, Commonwealth Games and the All-Africa Games, noting that consistent evaluation is critical to institutionalising the initiative.
He stressed that periodic reviews help identify gaps, refine processes and ensure the sustainability of large-scale sporting programmes, adding that structured planning remains key to transforming the Niger Delta Games into a long-term talent development pipeline.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Managing Consultant of Dunamis-Icon Limited, Sir. Malik Itiako Ikpokpo, explained that the retreat was the second in the series, designed to assess the outcome of the inaugural Games held in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State and to improve on identified shortcomings ahead of the next edition.
Ikpokpo noted that the objective was to interrogate previous processes, ask critical questions and build a richer, more impactful Games that would meet international standards, while deepening stakeholder collaboration.
Also speaking, Hon. Willie T. C. Okolieogwo, Secretary of the Imo State Liaison Committee and Secretary of the Medical Sub-Committee of the Edo 2026 Games, commended Ebie for his commitment to grassroots sports development and his vision of scouting talents across the nine mandate states of the Niger Delta.
He further applauded the NDDC for sponsoring the Games through its technical and consulting partnership with Dunamis-Icon Limited, describing the collaboration as pivotal to the success and credibility of the initiative.
Okolieogwo pledged that the Medical Sub-Committee would build on past achievements and surpass the standards recorded at the 2025 NDDC Sports Festival in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.
The 2nd Niger Delta Games is scheduled to hold from February 20 to 27, 2026, with athletes from the nine Niger Delta mandate states expected to participate.
