Tinubu declares Niger Delta Sports Festival open today
Phyno, Eben headline musical performance
Officials of the Niger Delta Sports Festival (NDSF), yesterday, revealed that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will lead dignitaries to the flag-off of the games sponsored by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC). The festival, which starts today and ends on April 8, will feature about 3000 athletes and over 500 officials competing in 17 sports.
The festival’s torch, which has been on a tour of the nine Niger Delta states, commencing from Bayelsa State, is expected to be lit in a cauldron at the Uyo Township Stadium at the opening ceremony.
The usually dour and rustic Uyo Township has undergone a makeover that turned the city centre sports ground into a kaleidoscope of bright colours, patterns, and sports symbols. As would be said in local parlance ‘Niger Delta Development Commission hand has touched it’.
Yesterday, finishing touches were being put to decorative structures, rigging of the performance stage and live television broadcast risers were being perfected.
While security presence has become more pronounced, locals still found their ways into the ‘construction’ site with hawkers louding their goods while some traders set up stands displaying sporting apparel and footwear.
“This is looking like a carnival, and we are lucky to have the event in our state. Our stadium is now looking like those places abroad that we see on television”, Etuk James, a budding football player shared in a hearty chat with a friend who dragged him for a photograph against the backdrop of a boarded tunnel with the images of former internationals, Emmanuel Amuneke, Victor Ikpeba, Nwankwo Kanu and Seun Ogunkoya.
The opening ceremony will feature 40 music and comedy talents from the Niger Delta region and supported by cultural dancers from the NDDC states.
Foremost entertainment impresario, Edi Lawani, who is also the chairman of the Culture and Entertainment Sub-committee, said: “We are bringing high energy sound systems with a full complement of exotic show lighting display and large format screen projection.”
Speaking ahead of the opening ceremony, lead consultant at Dunamis Icon, organisers of the festival, Itiako Ikpokpo, said the event promises to provide a classy evening of music, dance, and culture. “We have lined up international afrobeat star, Phyno to lead the night that will also have Eben on stage.
