NDSF: Iyaye impressed by level of preparedness

Chairman, Main Organising Committee (MOC) of the forthcoming Niger Delta Sports Festival (NDSF), Alabo Boma Iyaye is impressed by the level of preparedness for the Festival on all fronts, www.aclsports.com reports.

Iyaye, the Executive Director Administration and Finance of the Niger Delta Development Commision (NDDC) who are the major sponsors of the Festival took a tour round the facilities billed to host the events on Tuesday.

The former Rivers State Commissioner for Sports was visibly impressed by the quality of facilities he met on ground and the continued pace of work at the different venues he visited, raising genuine hopes of a hugely successful competition.

Iyaye was taken on tour by the Consultants to the Commission who serve as member of the MOC and the tour took them round the Dakkada Skills Acquisition Centre, West Itam Secondary School Sports Centre, Ultra Fit Sports Centre and the Uyo Township Stadium.

At these venues, facilities that will play hosts to the accommodation of thousands of athletes and also stage major sporting events such as Basketball, Tennis, Volleyball, Handball, Swimming, Table-Tennis and Wrestling among others were inspected.

Alabo Boma Iyaye could not hide his excitement at the end of the inspection tour.

“I am impressed that we have such humongous sporting facilities in Akwa-Ibom state. I want to commend the government of Akwa Ibom state for putting these in place.

“With this visit, I’m at least 90% sure that the ganes will be a success. We are using this opportunity not only to discover new talents for Nigeria but also to intervene in the sporting infrastructure of the Niger Delta.

“We believe in the power of Soorts. We know how successful our (Niger Delta) sports men and women have been in the past so it is an opportunity for us to create such pathway for the coming generation,” said Iyaye.

The MOC Chairman also reserved special praise for the Consultants to the NDDC led by Sir Itiako Ikpokpo which also includes foremost athletes Yusuf Alli and Enefiok Udo-Obong as well as respected sports journalists Fred Edoreh and Harry Iwuala.

“I must commend the Consultants to the NDDC who are the main organisers of this sporting fiesta. NDDC are the lead sponsors but these Consultants are the ones planning and doing the day to day activities, I must commend them.

“There are just a few Is to dot and Ts to cross but I can tell you with all sincerity that I can give them a pass mark of 80% with the kind of infrastructure on ground,” Iyaye concluded.

The inaugural edition of the Niger Delta Sports Festival (NDSF) is billed to hold in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, from April 1 to 8, 2025.