Ondo Liaison Committee Inaugurated as Edo Prepares for 2026 Niger Delta Games

By Kanu Samuel

The Project Director of the Niger Delta Games, Fred Edoreh, has announced that the 2026 edition of the regional sports competition, billed to hold in Edo State, will undergo major improvements compared to the inaugural event staged in Uyo.

Speaking in Akure during the inauguration of the Ondo State Liaison Committee for the second edition of the Games, Edoreh said the organising team had reviewed the shortcomings of the maiden edition and was committed to enhancing athlete welfare, upgrading competition venues, refining the opening ceremony, and strengthening overall event coordination.

At the ceremony, Edoreh unveiled the members of the Liaison Committee, naming the Ondo State Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Hon. Segun Omoyofunmi, as Chairman. Dr. Henry Babatunde, a former General Manager of the state sports complex, will serve as Secretary. Other members include the Director of Sports in the Ministry, Mrs. Evelyn Lebi; veteran journalist Akintunde Akinsemola; and the Chairman of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), Ondo State Chapter, Segun Giwa.

Edoreh emphasized that the Games aim to discover and develop young athletes at the grassroots. He added that the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) will provide support for emerging talents. Unlike the first edition, the 2026 Games will be strictly for U-20 athletes.

“Athletes must be natives of the states they represent and must register online from the preliminary stage,” he stressed.

He explained that the Liaison Committee will oversee grassroots trials and coordinate efforts to identify new sporting talents across the state.

Edoreh also praised the Ondo Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development for his dedication to sports promotion, noting that his vision aligns with that of the NDDC.

In his response, the committee chairman, Hon. Segun Omoyofunmi, revealed that Ondo State plans to field a 270-member contingent and compete in all 17 events slated for the Edo 2026 Games. He said the state will intensify talent discovery efforts:

“We must visit all communities to scout for fresh athletes. It’s time to stop over-relying on already established athletes. We need new athletes who can deliver the results we desire.”

Omoyofunmi further disclosed that ongoing renovation works at the Ondo State Sports Complex include plans to upgrade the Olympic-size swimming pool and other key facilities.