Edo Emerges NDDC Games Champion as Okpebholo Pledges to Harness Sporting Talents

Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to discovering, nurturing, and investing in young sporting talents following Edo State’s victory at the second edition of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) Games – Edo 2026.

The governor made the pledge while receiving the champions’ trophy during a reception held at the New Festival Hall, Government House, Benin City, in honour of Team Edo for emerging overall winners of the regional sporting tournament.

Governor Okpebholo congratulated the athletes, coaches, and sports administrators for their dedication and discipline, which led to Edo State finishing at the top of the medals table.

He noted that the victory reflects the state’s enormous sporting potential and the determination of his administration to reposition Edo as a major force in Nigerian sports.

“Congratulations to Edo State for this great victory at the second NDDC Games hosted in our state. Some of our athletes here will go on to represent Nigeria in future Olympic Games,” the governor said.

He recalled that during the opening ceremony of the competition, he had expressed confidence that Edo would not only host the tournament successfully but also emerge victorious.

“At the opening ceremony, I said Edo State was not just hosting but hosting to win. Today, we have fulfilled that promise by emerging champions,” he added.

Governor Okpebholo reiterated his earlier pledge to reward the victorious athletes with ₦30 million, describing the achievement as a moment of pride for the state.
“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 proud,” he said.

The governor stressed that his administration would continue to invest strategically in sports development, adding that talents discovered during the tournament would be nurtured to compete at national and international levels.

“Your talent is something we must harness, develop, and invest in so that Edo can produce champions who will represent Nigeria in global competitions,” he stated.
Governor Okpebholo also commended the coaches for their role in preparing the athletes and guiding them to victory.

“We appreciate our coaches for the great work they have done. You are the real heroes behind this victory because you helped produce these medals,” he said.He further praised the leadership of the Edo State Sports Commission for its commitment and professionalism in preparing the team for the competition.

Earlier, the Chairman of the Edo State Sports Commission, Desmond Enabulele, attributed the victory largely to the governor’s proactive support and early preparation for the tournament.

He noted that the NDDC Games triumph represents Edo State’s first major multi-sport tournament victory in about 24 years.“We are here to present the champions’ trophy to the governor and thank him for the opportunity to contribute to the development of sports in Edo State,” Enabulele said.

According to him, the early approval of the team’s preparation budget allowed athletes to commence camping well ahead of the competition, giving Team Edo a competitive advantage.He added that Edo State dominated several events, particularly swimming and weightlifting, with the weightlifting team alone winning 17 gold medals.

At the end of the competition, Edo State finished first on the medals table with 52 gold, 34 silver, and 25 bronze medals, making a total of 111 medals ahead of eight other participating Niger Delta states to emerge overall champions of the NDDC Games Edo 2026.