Edo State Tops Niger Delta Games
Last update: February 28, 2026
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The fiercely contested medal race also witnessed Team Akwa Ibom finishing fourth with 16 gold medals.
The Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of the National Institute for Sports (NIS), Philip Shaibu, has congratulated Team Edo for emerging overall champions of the second edition of the Niger Delta Development Commission Games.
He described the victory as a landmark achievement for Edo State and a proud moment for the entire Niger Delta region.
CBI News reports that Team Edo secured the title after a thrilling week-long competition in Benin City, finishing top of the medals table with an impressive 52 gold, 34 silver and 25 bronze medals, a total of 111 medals.
The triumph marks a return to regional glory for the host state after a 24-year wait, with strong home support fueling standout performances across multiple sporting events.
In a statement, Shaibu praised the discipline, resilience and thorough preparation of the Edo athletes, noting that their dominance in athletics, combat sports and team events proved decisive in a fiercely contested championship that went down to the final day.
Shaibu also commended Delta State for finishing second with 39 gold, 29 silver and 34 bronze medals, while defending champions Bayelsa State placed third with 25 gold, 24 silver and 26 bronze medals.
According to him, the competitiveness among the leading states reflects the growing strength of sports development initiatives across the Niger Delta.
The NIS Director-General further applauded Akwa Ibom, Abia, Cross River, Ondo, Rivers and Imo States for their active participation and sportsmanship, stressing that every state contributed to the excitement and overall success of the festival.
He also praised the Edo State Government and the Edo State Sports Commission for effectively hosting over 3,000 athletes from nine states who competed in 17 different sports, and reserved special appreciation for the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) for sponsoring the Games, describing the initiative as a critical investment in youth empowerment and talent discovery.
He however emphasized that beyond medals, the competition showcased unity, teamwork and the vast potential of young athletes in the region, in line with the Renewed Hope agenda of Bola Tinubu aimed at fostering national unity through sports development.
