… Vows to groom future Olympians
BENIN CITY: Governor of Edo State, Monday Okpebholo, on Tuesday hosted members of Team Edo at Government House in Benin City following their triumph at the second edition of the Niger Delta Games 2026, where the state emerged overall champions.
At a colourful reception held at the New Festival Hall, Government House, the governor received the champions’ trophy and commended the athletes, coaches and sports administrators for their discipline, resilience and determination, which enabled Edo State to finish top of the medals table at the regional sporting event sponsored by the Niger Delta Development Commission.
Okpebholo said the victory had further strengthened his administration’s resolve to discover, nurture and invest in young sporting talents, noting that some of the athletes would be groomed to represent Nigeria at future international competitions, including the Olympic Games.
“Congratulations to my dear state, Edo State, for the victory at the second Niger Delta Games hosted here in Edo. Some of our athletes will represent Nigeria in future Olympic Games,” the governor said.
He recalled that during the opening ceremony of the competition he had expressed confidence that Edo would not only host the tournament successfully but would also emerge champions.
“At the opening ceremony of the Niger Delta Games Edo 2026, I said Edo State is not just hosting but hosting to win. Today, we have truly won, defeating other states,” he added.
Okpebholo reiterated his earlier promise to reward the victorious athletes with ₦30 million, describing the achievement as a moment of pride for the state.
“I promised you ₦30 million if you won, and today you have delivered. We are celebrating because we hosted and we won. You have dominated the medals table and made Edo very proud,” he said.
The governor stressed that the state government would continue to invest strategically in sports development, adding that the talents discovered during the games would be carefully nurtured to compete at national and global levels.
“Your talent is something we must harness, build on, and invest in so that Edo can produce champions who will represent Nigeria in global competitions,” he stated.
Governor Okpebholo also commended the coaches for their contributions to the team’s success, describing them as the real heroes behind the medals won by the athletes.
“We want to thank our coaches for the great job they have done. You are the real heroes of this victory because you helped produce these athletes that won the medals,” he said.
He equally praised the leadership of the Edo State Sports Commission for its commitment and professionalism in preparing the team for the tournament.
“I also want to thank the chairman of the Sports Commission. Your commitment shows that I made the right decision in appointing you to lead sports development in Edo State,” the governor added.
Earlier, the Executive Chairman of the Edo State Sports Commission, Hon Amadin Desmond Enabulele, said the victory was largely made possible by the governor’s proactive support and early preparation for the competition.
According to him, the triumph represents Edo State’s first major multi-sport tournament victory in about 24 years, marking a significant turning point in the state’s sporting history.
“We are here today to present the champions’ trophy to the governor and thank him for giving us the opportunity to contribute our quota to the development of sports in Edo State,” Enabulele said.
He explained that early approval of the team’s budget enabled athletes to begin camping well ahead of the competition, giving Team Edo the preparation needed to outperform other participating states.
“Early camping made a huge difference. The governor ensured that everything needed for preparation and hosting was made available, including the upgrade of sports facilities. That investment is already yielding results,” he added.
Enabulele revealed that Team Edo recorded outstanding performances in several sporting events, particularly swimming and weightlifting, with the weightlifting team alone delivering 17 gold medals.
At the end of the competition, Edo State finished first on the medals table with 52 gold, 34 silver and 25 bronze medals, bringing the state’s total to 111 medals to emerge overall champions ahead of eight other participating Niger Delta states at the Niger Delta Games Edo 2026.
