Diri Charges Team Bayelsa to Defend Title at Niger Delta Games, Reaffirms Commitment to Sports Development

Governor of Douye Diri reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to sports development as he charged Team Bayelsa to retain its championship title at the second edition of the Niger Delta Games scheduled to begin on Thursday, February 20, 2026, in Benin City.

The governor gave the charge after participating in the weekly Prosperity Walk held at the Samson Siasia Sports Complex in Ovom, Yenagoa, where he also took part in the draws for Season 8 of the Bayelsa Prosperity Cup, described as the largest grassroots football tournament in Nigeria.

During the event, organisers presented Governor Diri with branded kits for the competition, after which he handed over jerseys to some of the participating teams.

Shortly after, the Honourable Commissioner for Sports Development, Daniel Igali, formally presented the state’s contingent to the governor ahead of their departure for the regional tournament.

Addressing the athletes, Governor Diri urged them to uphold the state’s pride and winning tradition.

“My charge to Team Bayelsa is very simple: Go and maintain your top spot just as you emerged champions at the maiden edition in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, last year,” he said.

Bayelsa State clinched the title at the inaugural edition of the Niger Delta Games held in Uyo in 2025, further cementing its reputation as a rising powerhouse in Nigerian sports.

Governor Diri noted that Bayelsa’s growing dominance in sports informed his administration’s decision to invest heavily in modern sporting infrastructure, including the ongoing construction of a 30,000-capacity Olympic-standard stadium in Igbogene, Yenagoa.

He stated that the facility is part of preparations for hosting the 2028 edition of the National Sports Festival and positioning the state to benefit from the sports tourism economy.

“In almost 30 years of Bayelsa State’s creation, and with the new sporting facilities being put in place, we are now prepared as a state to tap into the sports tourism economy by hosting national competitions,” the governor added.

The Prosperity Cup and the Niger Delta Games, he said, remain key platforms for talent discovery and youth engagement, aligning with his administration’s vision of promoting peace, unity, and economic growth through sports.