Edo ready-made choice for second Niger Delta games, says Ikpokpo

By : Guardian Nigeria

Date: 6 December 2025 3:50am WAT

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Niger Delta Games’ Head of Culture Affairs and Entertainment, Edi Lawani (left); Team Leader, Itiako Ikpokpo; Chairman, Edo State Sports Commission, Desmond Amadin Enabulele and Project Director, Fred Edoreh at the Sam Ogbemudia Stadium on Wednesday.

Niger Delta Games’ Head of Culture Affairs and Entertainment, Edi Lawani (left); Team Leader, Itiako Ikpokpo; Chairman, Edo State Sports Commission, Desmond Amadin Enabulele and Project Director, Fred Edoreh at the Sam Ogbemudia Stadium on Wednesday.

Project consultants to the Niger Delta Games, Dunamis-Icon Limited, has described projects presented by Edo State for the second edition of the games as top-notch, saying that the state is ready-made for the festival.

Consistent with its project execution routine, Dunamis-Icon Limited concluded the first phase of physical inspection and evaluation of facilities for the event, 24 hours after the presentation of the hosting right to Edo State was performed on Wednesday.

The project management team was guided round select facility locations in Benin City by Chairman of the Edo State Sports Commission, Desmond Amadin Enabulele, and the team leader, Itiako Ikpokpo expressed satisfaction with the sports assets of the host.

Ikpokpo said: “Edo is a ready-made choice based on all the factors that are necessary to host this kind of big event. We are expecting over 3,000 athletes coaches, alongside journalists and technical officials, with an approximate number of people outside spectators in the range of 5,000. So, we need facilities that work for the games itself.”

He commended the Edo State Government for the good state of facilities at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, and promised that the state will be assisted with the renovation of some of the facilities as may be necessary to ensure good competition experience for the athletes.

“I have been to the iconic Ogbe Stadium and must commend the Edo State Government for maintaining the facilities there. We are also considering taking some events to the University of Benin, so that people in that part of the city can also feel and enjoy the fun. Where need be, we will also see how to assist the state and the University of Benin to add value to some of the sporting facilities.”

Dunamis Icon Limited is the franchise rights owner to the games conceived and designed to provide a platform for unity and integration, and identifying and grooming talented youths from the region into national and international stars.

The NDDC, as the flagship interventionist agency for the nine states that make up the region, is the prime sponsor of the games as part of their strategic focus on youth engagement and human capital development.

The inspection tour began at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, after a brief meeting with Enabulele and the Sports Commission team at his office.

Areas inspected include the stadium’s main bowl, the tartan track, the state box, the VIP lounges and other key areas like the ceremonial room, the media studio and other indoor facilities.

Other facility locations assessed were the Wire Road Sports Centre being listed to host basketball and volleyball games, the University of Benin Sports Complex, and the Etete Sports Centre.

In the entourage of Dunamis-Icon were the Project Director, Fred Edoreh; Director of Facilities and Equipment, Dr Emmanuel Ochuko Igbigbisie; the head of Communications, Harry Iwuala; Head of Transport and Logistics, Israel Umueri Afoke. Others were Head of Secretariat, Theresa Ineke; the Head of Scouting, Godwin Enakhena; the Head of Culture Affairs and Entertainment, Edi Lawani; and Elder Siegha Porbeni of the Technical Department.

The Edo Sports Commission chairman was also supported by his commission’s executive directors, Frank Ilaboya and Mrs Sabina Chikere, as well as former international, Baldwin Bazuaye.

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