Other Sports
ENCOMIUMS ON WIKE FOR NATIONAL SWIMMING CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE
Notable sports related personalities have poured encomiums on Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State for his various sports initiatives, the latest being his accepting to have the national Swimming Centre of Excellence in Port Harcourt.
He is also playing hosts to the African Wrestling Championship which will run for a week starting from this weekend.
Among those commending the governor is Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, the proprietor of the defunct Iwuanyanwu Nationale which has since transformed to Heartland FC of Owerri.
Also commending the governor is the African queen of the track, Mary Onyali According to Chief Iwuanyanwu who incidentally is the Chairman, Board of Trustees of the Nigeria Sports Development Fund Inc (NSDFI), “that is a decision that takes that state into the future if only you can see what I am seeing. That is one project that will give many people, children especially from poor homes, those who live around the three swimming pools already have a career.”
“Honestly, that is one governor whose conducts I have variously admired and appreciated. For this one he has done for the children and youths of Rivers State, I will have to visit the state myself especially when the first generation of the athletes will be training. Governor Wike, may God bless you and make your heart desires thrive. This is like a personal gift to me,” said the proprietor of Champion Newspaper.
“When I read of the development, the kind of celebration I had most likely was more than any one I had when I win medals for the country. I jumped for joy until I lost my voice. I was overjoyed. Governor Wike has given me my best gift in 2018,” said the first Nigerian to do five Olympics in a straight row.
Chief Onyali is the Executive Director (Technical) for the Basic Olive Opportunity Sports Training (BOOST) which is housing the National Swimming Centre of Excellence.
“I am so tripped with the timing. With this, I can tell you that our medal prospects for the 2024 Olympics will come from here. Governor Wike’s name will be boldly written in the lives of the children who will be in this project.”
President of the Aquatics Federation, Fatayi Babatunde-Williams said on telephone, “we as a federation are so appreciative of Governor Nyesom Wike for this wonderful initiative. This may be the biggest support that Swimming will be having. I am so happy for the children of the state.”
The stage is set for the 3rd National Para Games, Nigeria’s largest and most prestigious para sports event, scheduled to hold from March 26 to April 3, 2026, in Abuja.
For nine days, the nation’s capital will host more than 3,000 athletes representing all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, competing across 15 different sports in what promises to be a vibrant celebration of resilience, excellence and inclusion. Organisers say champions will emerge, records will tumble, and new chapters will be written in Nigeria’s para sports history.
The Games are being organised by the National Sports Commission, which describes the event as a critical platform for talent discovery, national unity and the advancement of para sports development across the country.
Since its inception, the National Para Games has evolved into a cornerstone of Nigeria’s sporting calendar, spotlighting the remarkable abilities of athletes living with disabilities while reinforcing the country’s commitment to inclusive participation in sports.
Officials say the 2026 edition will surpass previous outings in scale, organisation and competitive intensity. With participation confirmed from every state of the federation and the FCT, the Games are expected to reveal the depth of talent spread nationwide and provide a pathway for standout performers to progress to continental and global competitions.
In a significant boost to preparations, the National Youth Service Corps has partnered with the Commission by releasing its Orientation Camp in Kubwa, Abuja, to serve as the official Games Village. The facility will accommodate athletes and officials throughout the competition, offering a secure and community-focused environment designed to foster camaraderie and peak performance.
The collaboration reflects a broader inter-agency commitment to empowering young Nigerians and promoting social integration through sport. It also underscores growing national recognition of para athletes as integral contributors to Nigeria’s sporting success.
With anticipation building and logistics nearing completion, Abuja is poised to welcome thousands of competitors and supporters for what promises to be a defining celebration of courage, competition and collective pride.
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By Keresifon Essien
Akwa Ibom State will parade a strong contingent of about 280 athletes and 44 officials at the 2026 Niger Delta Sports Festival (NDSF), scheduled to hold in Benin City, Edo State, from February 20 to 28.
The State Commissioner for Sports, Elder Paul Bassey, disclosed this in an exclusive interview with the Curator of Keresy Sports Museum (KSM), Keresifon Essien, noting that Team Akwa Ibom will compete in 16 sporting events at the regional multi-sports fiesta.
According to Bassey, the sports in which the state will feature include football, basketball, volleyball, handball, table tennis, badminton, lawn tennis, boxing, wrestling, judo, karate, taekwondo, weightlifting, swimming and chess.
To ensure optimal preparation, the state government has constituted a five-man State Liaison Committee to oversee arrangements for the festival. The committee is chaired by the Commissioner for Sports, Elder Paul Bassey.
Other members of the committee are Coach Catherine Ewa Ekuta, Head of Technical; Guinness World Record holder George Essien; Edidiong Stephen, a member; and Mfon Bassey, who serves as Secretary.
Bassey explained that the committee has been mandated to fine-tune all preparations for the festival, beginning with the state trials scheduled for this weekend, and to ensure that the contingent arrives in Benin City fully prepared and ready to project Akwa Ibom State positively at the Niger Delta Sports Festival.
He expressed confidence that with proper planning and early preparations, Team Akwa Ibom will make a strong impression when the festival proper begins.
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Team Nigeria on Monday afternoon departed the country for Cairo, Egypt, where they will compete in the 2025 World Karate Championship scheduled for November 27–30.
The nation will be represented by five outstanding athletes who have demonstrated exceptional discipline, consistency, and competitive grit in their buildup to the global event. The team is made up of:
- Loveth Ngozi Okoro – Kumite -50kg
- Godfirst Orie Ukoha-Sampson – Kumite -55kg
- Constance Tamunodiepreye Abode – Kumite -61kg
- Ujunwa Caroline Nwankwo – Kumite +68kg
- Oluwaseun Olorunbe – Male Kata
The athletes, who have undergone intense preparations, will be led by coach Efezino Akpotu, while Olusegun Abode serves as the leader of delegation.
Four members of the squad—Ngozi, Godfirst, Constance, and Ujunwa—are already well-known names on the domestic circuit. They are regular contenders at the Zainab Saleh International Female Open Karate Championship, an annual tournament founded by Hajiya Zainab Saleh, a Board Member of the Karate Federation of Nigeria (KFN). The championship has been widely recognised for empowering and developing female karatekas across the country.
Ahead of the team’s participation, the Board of the KFN expressed confidence in the athletes’ ability to deliver strong performances on the world stage.
However, it also appealed to the National Sports Commission (NSC) for urgent financial support to offset debts incurred in ensuring Nigeria’s participation in the championship.
According to the federation, the World Karate Championship falls under the mandate of the NSC, and timely intervention is necessary to stabilise the federation’s operations after securing the team’s trip to Cairo.
Team Nigeria will now focus on making a strong impact as they join the world’s best karatekas in Egypt later this week.
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