Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has charged athletes participating in the second edition of the Niger Delta Games to let their performance reflect the strength, courage, and determination of the people of the region.
The Governor made the appeal while declaring open the Games at the magnificent Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin on Friday evening.
“These Games represent more than competition, they symbolise possibilities. The games are a powerful statement that the Niger Delta is not only defined by its resources, but also by its resilience, talent, and boundless human potential,” Governor Okpebholo stated while welcoming the athletes and officials.
Going further, he reiterated: “Through sports, discipline is taught. Through sports, character is built. Through sports, people across language, culture, and boundaries disappear.
“In this tournament, there is no division, only teamwork, excellence, and the pursuit of greatness. This is the spirit we must carry beyond this arena into our various communities.”
Governor Okpebholo charged the athletes, “you are the pride of the Niger Delta. You carry the dreams of millions of young people who look to you for inspiration. I urge you to compete with passion and integrity. Let your performance reflect the strength, courage, and determination of our people.”
He commended the vision of the organisers, the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) “in using sports as a vehicle for youth empowerment, regional integration, and sustainable peace. When we invest in our youth, we secure their future.”
According to him, “the idea of this sports fiesta is to galvanise the energies of our youth population and re-channell it to positive endeavours. This tournament is in line with our SHINE AGENDA whose cardinal objective is sustainable youth development.
“It is our administration’s policy to deliberately balance our developmental drive with meaningful engagement of our youth population. We believe that no meaningful development can be achieved if the youths, who constitute the majority of the population, are ignored.”
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