Niger Delta Games: Cross River Poised to Raise Future Stars

Chairman of the Cross River State Sports Commission, Mr. Lawrence Itanya, has commended the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) for supporting young sports men and women in the region through the Niger Delta Games.

Itanya applauded the initiative while receiving the representative of Dunamis Icon Limited, the Project Consultants, and expressed the state’s readiness to take advantage of the games to identify and groom young athletes.

“On behalf of His Excellency, Prince Bassey Edet Otu, and the good people of Cross River State, I welcome you to the carnival city of Calabar. We deeply appreciate the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and Dunamis Icon for initiating an innovative platform designed to discover, nurture, and project young sporting talents from the Niger Delta region to the global stage”, Itanya said while receiving Fred Edoreh, the Project Director who represented the Chairman of Dunamis Icon, Sir Itiako Ikpokpo KSM, at the inauguration of the State Liaison Committee on Monday.

Preparations for the games have evidently heightened as sporting facilities, including the Olympic-standard swimming pool has been renovated.

The Cross River State Liaison Committee will be led by Mr. Itanya, who will oversee the coordination of the state’s preparations and participation ahead of the Edo 2026 Games.

Members of the committee include Hon. Queen Gladys Igut (Commissioner I), Mrs. Rosemary Usang (Director, Sports Commission), Mr. Ettah Emmanuel O. (Media Coordinator, and Mr. David Enwa (Assistant Stadium Manager).

Speaking during the ceremony, Edoreh thanked the Government of Cross River State for the warm reception and support.

He formally inducted members of the liaison committee and outlined their responsibilities, noting that the committee is to work closely with the Cross River State Sports Commission to coordinate pre-games activities, including grassroots talent discovery, athlete screening, and logistical planning ahead of the Games proper.

The ancient city of Calabar, widely celebrated as the birthplace of football and several other sports in Nigeria, has once again assumed a prominent position in national sports development as preparations gather momentum for the 2nd edition of the Niger Delta Games, Edo 2026.

The inauguration represents a significant milestone in the build-up to what is projected to be one of Nigeria’s biggest and most exciting sporting events.

The official inauguration at the Olympic-standard swimming pool underscores Cross River State’s commitment to sports excellence and grassroots development, while reaffirming the collective resolve of all stakeholders to ensure a successful outing at the 2nd Niger Delta Games