SPORTS DEVELOPMENT UNDER OKOWA
Sports stand out as one of the areas where the human resources of Delta state under Governor Okowa has been positively deployed. There can be no meaningful discussion on sports in Nigeria where the contributions of Deltans are not recognized. From athletics to tennis, soccer or judo, Deltans have always held out strong by winning laurels at both national and international events. At inauguration, Okowa hinted that his administration’s policy direction is to create an enabling environment for sports to thrive and give opportunity to the young ones to discover, nurture and develop their talents. Sports infrastructure and development policies and programs are being put in place by the government; for instance, there is the catch-them-young policy which compelling schools in Delta to have space to develop sports facilities as a prerequisite for license to operate.
There was a relative decline in sporting activities and lack of motivation for sportsmen and women when Okowa assumed office but that did not deter him to engage in restoring sports to its pride of place as a priority. Being an articulate politician and strategist, he decided to start by engaging and stimulating grassroots sports development through the revitalization of the Delta State Sports Festival which had been comatose for almost a decade.
The Sports Festival which saw athletes representing the 25 Local Government Areas competing for honours was a celebration of the rich sports heritage of Delta State and served as an avenue for identifying and grooming the athletes of tomorrow. The Festival took place at the Ozoro Polytechnic Stadium, an ultramodern Olympic size Stadium built in partnership with the polytechnic and commissioned by Senator Okowa. This festival has now come to stay. From the state sports festival the state has hunted, discovered talents and prepared them for various local and international Athletics Competition. Since Okowa’s administration the state has retained the national sports champion title like never before and her athletes were duly rewarded in cash and in kind.
At the grassroot level, the existing stadia in the various local government areas are regularly maintained. Yet another testament of the commitment of the Okowa administration to the revitalization of Delta State sports is the resuscitation of the Principal’s cup and Headmaster’s cup. These are soccer fiestas for all public/ private Secondary schools and Primary Schools respectively and they are organized in sponsored partnership with Zenith Bank. Sports being a unifying point could be deployed to arrest militancy, restiveness, cultism and other antisocial activities amongst the youths. Okowa’s credible leadership saw the timely completion and commissioning of world class Stephen Keshi Stadium. The sprawling presence of the stadium lives as one of the best landmarks on the skyline of Asaba. Now a favourite destination, it has hosted countless continental and global soccer events. Little wonder the stadium is hosting the 2022 National Sports Festival.
Delta State has been a leading state in sports in Nigeria since the 2000 National Sports Festival held in Bauchi State, and has maintained the top position in virtually all the sports events, retaining that stance in the past six years. This feat is consequent upon deliberate policy and programmes from the Okowa administration to motivate the sports administrators, coaches and athletes, which translated into higher performance and success story for the state.For instance, some athletes that excelled were rewarded with employment into the civil service while others got cash gifts for medals won. Still others were recognized in different ways and some officials promoted. Thus, sports became a tool for poverty alleviation, as talented athletes had a complete turnaround from paucity to a higher economic level. A case in point is Deborah Okpochini who earned N9million for winning nine gold medals following Governor Okowa’s reward of N1m for every gold medal.
It is not surprising that Delta State has in the past seven years attained such a lofty height in sports development. Under the National Youth Games, Delta State has consistently emerged tops in the medals table from the 2nd edition in 2016 to the 5th edition in 2019 when it held last. In the penultimate National Sports Festival (NSF) tagged Abuja 2018, Delta took first with 163 gold, 88 silver and 101 bronze with Rivers State coming a distance second with 69 gold, 58 silver and 67 bronze. And Delta re-enacted the feat this year at the Edo 2021 festival with 158 gold, 116 silver and 110 bronze. Edo State came a distant second with 129 gold, 104 silver and 108 bronze. This exploit makes it Team Delta’s sixth consecutive NSF triumph. Even at the several championships, tournaments, trials, and competitions entered into by the state for different games, Delta has remained relevant and in the front bracket in the past six years.
After resoundingly winning Edo 2021 in Benin City, capital of Edo State earlier this year, Okowa offered to host the National Sports Festival in 2022 with a promise to host the ‘best ever’ sports festival that will remain memorable for Nigerians in many years to come.