NDSF: Otti commends NDDC, promises reward for Team Abia’s medallists

•Iyaye explains NDDC’s sports development efforts

Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, believes that the state’s contingent to the maiden Niger Delta Sports Festival (NDSF) has been primed to excel at the competition billed to start on April in Uyo, AkwaIbom State.

Abia is among the nine states expected to vie for laurels in 17 sports at the competition, which will hold in modern facilities spread across the Akwa-Ibom State capital and its environs.

Speaking while receiving the festival torch at Government House, Umuahia, Otticharged Team Abia to go and conquer in Uyo and come back to receive a state reception.

Otticommended the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) for initiating the sports festival, which, he noted, will go a long way to create unity, spot and harness untapped talents in the Niger Delta states.

The state’s Commissioner for Youth and Sport, Nwaobilor Ananaba Nwadinma, had earlier received the torch at the Umuahia Township Stadium before leading Team Abia to the Government House, where it was presented to Otti, who treated the team to a dinner.

The team then proceeded to the governor’s yard, where the torch was lit and presented to the governor by the commissioner to the admiration of everyone, who witnessed the lighting of the torch.

Meanwhile, Executive Director, Finance, Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), AlaboBomaIyaye, has affirmed that the Niger Delta Sports Festival (NDSF) was designed as an intervention project by the commission to develop sports using all youths in the region irrespective of gender and physical abilities.

Speaking on an Arise Television show yesterday, Iyaye said the NDSF speaks to global practices of inclusivity in sports and other aspects of life.

Explaining the rationale for