By Ozioruva Aliu
THE governor of Edo State, Sen. Monday Okpebholo on Tuesday hosted the Edo State contingent to the recently concluded Niger Delta Games where he redeemed the N30 million pledge made to the team if they win the competition when it started last month.
Edo State emerged overall the winner of the second edition of the competition with 52 gold, 34 silver, and 25 bronze medals.
Governor Okpebholo congratulated the athletes, coaches, and sports administrators for their dedication and discipline, which culminated in Edo State finishing at the top of the medals table.
He noted that the victory reflects the enormous sporting potential within the state and the determination of his administration to reposition Edo as a powerhouse in Nigerian sports.
He said, “Congratulations to my dear state, Edo State, for the victory at the second NDDC Games hosted here in Edo. Some of our athletes will represent Nigeria in the Olympic Games,” the governor said.
“At the opening ceremony of the NDDC Games Edo 2026, I said Edo State is not just hosting but hosting to win. Today, we have truly won, defeating other states,” he added.
“I promised you ₦30 million if you won, and today you have delivered. We are celebrating because we hosted and we won. You have dominated the medals table and made Edo very proud.
“Your talent is something we must harness, build on, and invest in so that Edo can produce champions who will represent Nigeria in global competitions,” he stated.
The governor also commended the chairman of the Edo State Sports Commission chairman, Hon Amadin Enabulele for their efforts.
Earlier, Enabulele, said the victory was due to the governor’s proactive support and early preparation for the competition.
He said “We are here today to present the champions’ trophy to the governor and thank him for giving us the opportunity to contribute our quota to the development of sports in Edo State,” Enabulele said.
He explained that early approval of the team’s budget enabled athletes to begin camping well ahead of the competition, giving Team Edo the preparation needed to outperform other participating states.
