Niger Delta Games ignites new wave of youth sporting talent – Sampson Sotonye

By Maxwell Kumoye 

 

The curtains have fallen on the Niger Delta Games in Benin City, but the echoes of raw talent and roaring ambition are still ringing across the region.

For Alabo Sampson Sotonye, Special Assistant on Youth to Alabo Boma Iyayi, Executive Director of Finance at the Niger Delta Development Commission, the just-concluded Games were more than a sporting spectacle, they were a statement.

Sotonye lauded Chief Barrister Boma Iyayi and the Managing Director/CEO of the Niger Delta Development Commission, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, for backing what he described as a “laudable initiative” designed to unlock the vast sporting potential of Niger Delta youths.

“I’m so grateful that Chief Barrister Boma Iyayi shares the same vision with the MD to support this platform for young people to exhibit their talents,” he said, brimming with pride.

Across tracks, courts and fields in Benin City, young athletes seized the moment, sprinting into the spotlight, battling for glory, and proving that the region is a reservoir of untapped excellence.

But Sotonye believes this is only the beginning.

According to him, the Games should not be confined to the Niger Delta alone. 

He called for similar initiatives to be replicated across other regions of Nigeria, creating a nationwide conveyor belt of talent.

“These are talents that have been exposed here. More people need to see them again in bigger championships. More competitions will enhance their growth,” he stressed.

His message was very clear, competition breeds confidence, and exposure fuels excellence.

He also urged corporate bodies and well-meaning Nigerians to invest consistently in grassroots sports, drawing comparisons with structured youth development systems in Europe, the United States and Australia.

“The space must be opened for young people to keep competing so their talents will not be wasted,” he said.

The excitement, he noted, was shared at the highest levels of the Commission, with the NDDC leadership particularly pleased with the impressive hosting by the Edo State Government.

As medals were won and new stars emerged, one thing became evident, when given the stage, Niger Delta youths will perform.

And if stakeholders heed the call for more platforms and broader support, the next generation of champions may already be warming up.