Team Akwa Ibom Records Improved Performance with Fourth Place Finish at 2nd Niger Delta Games

Team Akwa Ibom recorded their best performance in the history of the Niger Delta Games after finishing fourth at the second edition held in Benin City. The state amassed a total of 55 medals, including 16 gold, 17 silver and 22 bronze, securing its highest-ever placement in the regional competition. Host state Edo emerged overall champions, Delta finished second, while Bayelsa placed third in a closely contested Games.

The fourth-place finish marks a significant improvement from the maiden edition, where Akwa Ibom ended sixth with 37 medals. The latest outing reflects the steady growth of sports in the state and the increasing competitiveness of its athletes across multiple disciplines.

Athletics was one of the major contributors to the medal haul, producing fourteen medals, including four gold, five silver and five bronze. David Udoh stood out with three gold medals in the men’s 400 metres, the 4×400 metres relay and the 4×400 metres mixed relay, playing a key role in the team’s success on the track.

Weightlifting also delivered twelve medals, comprising seven gold, two silver and three bronze. Samuel Cosmos Sampson emerged as one of the most decorated athletes of the Games, winning three gold medals in his category.

Taekwondo produced nine medals in total, including one gold, three silver and five bronze, highlighting the team’s depth across both sparring and poomsae events. Boxing accounted for four medals, including two gold and two bronze, reflecting solid performances in both male and female categories.

Tennis was also a major success for the state, delivering four medals, three of which were gold and one silver, making it one of the state’s most successful sports at the Games. Para-powerlifting contributed three medals, two silver and one bronze, while traditional wrestling produced two medals, one gold and one bronze. Wrestling added one bronze medal.

Table tennis added two silver medals, and Scrabble contributed three medals, one silver and two bronze. Swimming recorded one bronze medal, marking a historic breakthrough for the state in the sport.

Athletes who spoke after the Games attributed the improved performance to the strong support of Governor Umo Eno. They explained that the purchase of new equipment greatly enhanced their final weeks of preparation and contributed positively to their performances.

In separate remarks, the athletes also praised the well-coordinated State Liaison Committee headed by the Commissioner for Sports, Elder Paul Bassey. They noted that the committee ensured a seamless flow of activities from preparation to participation at the Games, with no hitches recorded.

The active presence at competition venues by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Sports, Mrs Rosemary Ubia, and the Commissioner for Sports, Elder Paul Bassey, during the event, was also widely commended. Both officials toured venues consistently, cheering and motivating athletes, a gesture described as encouraging and morale-boosting.

With this historic fourth-place finish and record medal tally, Team Akwa Ibom has firmly established itself as a rising force in regional sports and will look ahead with confidence to future editions of the Niger Delta Games.