Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has hailed the outstanding performance of Team Edo at the ongoing 9th National Youth Games in Asaba, Delta State, where the State’s athletes have taken an emphatic early lead with 17 gold, 5 silver, and 3 bronze medals to top the medals table.
Governor Okpebholo described the feat as a resounding evidence of his administration’s deliberate investment and policy focus on sports revival, repositioning it as a critical tool for youth development, empowerment, and social cohesion in Edo State.
Team Edo’s impressive outing has been powered by stellar performances in weightlifting, gymnastics, swimming, and karate. Edo’s women weightlifters made history by sweeping all nine gold medals on offer, with Favour Cornelius (44kg), Esther Amarachi Chijoke (48kg), and Beauty Akpore (53kg) each claiming three gold medals.
In gymnastics, Wisdom Ikede delivered three gold medals, while Aliu Solomon and Ocheke Excel added one gold and one silver respectively. Edo’s swimming sensation, Tissa Precious, clinched two gold medals in the 50m freestyle, alongside a silver from the 4x100m relay team. Karate also brought glory, with Desmond Izevbuwa Eroirewaen winning gold in the 50kg male kumite.
Beyond the medals, Governor Okpebholo said the victory reflects the fresh energy coursing through Edo’s sporting ecosystem under his SHINE Agenda, which prioritizes grassroots talent discovery, facility upgrades, structured training, and athlete welfare.
As the Games progress across 37 sporting categories, the Governor expressed confidence that Team Edo will consolidate its early momentum, stressing that sports, when properly harnessed, is not just about medals but about discipline, character, and shaping the future of the youth.
He congratulated all Edo athletes, coaches, and officials for flying the Heartbeat State’s banner with excellence and assured them of continued support.
With this triumph, Edo shines again, and the seeds sown in the sports sector under Governor Okpebholo are already yielding fruits of glory, unity, and hope.
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