NDDC creating equal opportunities through NDSF — Iyaye

The executive director of finance and administration of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Boma Iyaye has said the Niger Delta Sports Festival (NDSF), as an intervention project, is designed to include all youths in the region irrespective of gender and physical abilities.

Iyaye stated this on ARISE’s Morning Show, saying it speaks to global practices of inclusivity in sports and other aspects of life.

Explaining the rationale for including para-athletics and para-lifting in the 17 games festival event, Iyaye said, “There are youths in the region with physical disabilities, and they must enjoy the benefits of the NDDC intervention.

“At the international level, we have the Paralympic Games organised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to cater for persons with physical disabilities, and the Niger Delta Sports Festival cannot deviate from the international best practices.”

Iyaye, who also serves as the chairman of the NDSF Main Organising Committee (MOC), also spoke of the reason behind the NDDC decision to extend its intervention program to sports, noting that “sports is a powerful tool for national unity.

“We want to provide a platform for youths in the nine mandate states of NDDC to bond, to know each other, and find expression for their talents.

“There is a need to regenerate the line of supply of athletes to represent Nigeria as a country in international sports competitions, and the festival will afford us the opportunity to discover new talents that will be nurtured to replace the likes of Blessing Okagbare, Enefiok Udo-Obong, Blessing Oborodudu, Victor Ikpeba, Emmanuel Amuneke, Seun Ogunkoya, and many others.”

The NDSF which started with trials in the local government and federal constituencies, will be held in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, from April 1 to April 8. 2025.

About 3000 athletes will compete in 17 sports.