A former Director of Sports in Delta State, Seigha Porbeni, has explained why the second Niger Delta Games holding in Benin City, Edo State, from February 20 to 27, is restricted to athletes below the age of 20 years only.

The maiden edition of the Games held in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, last year, was opened for athletes below 25 years.

However, Porbeni, who is the Special Technical Adviser to the Chairman, Dunamis Icon, which is the consultant for the Niger Delta Games, Itiako Ikpokpo, told The Guardian, yesterday, that after the maiden edition in Uyo, there was a need to change format.

“The first Niger Delta Games in Uyo was U-25. We needed the elite class to embrace the programme. We all know that anything above 20 years are close to retirement, depending on levels of injuries, bringing us back to the problem we intended to solve. Talents discovered in this U-20 category have longer competition years,” he stated.

On the birth of the Niger Delta Games, Porbeni revealed that Ikpokpo, popularly known as Malik, put a team together to share his deep thoughts about the gradual disappearance of great sportsmen and women from the Niger Delta region.

He said: “Once upon a time, the Niger Delta region was the sports basket of the country with 80 per cent of national teams usually made up of players and athletes from the Niger Delta. Names like Jay Jay Okocha, Wilson Oruma, Victor Ikpeba, Edema Fuludu, Nwankwo Kanu, Yusuf Alli, Henry Amike, Chioma Ajunwa, Endurance Ojokolo, Enefiong Udo-Obong, Blessing Okagbare, Divine Oduduru, Blessing Oborodudu, too numerous to mention.

“Ikpokpo felt that a replacement for these legends was not forthcoming. He said that he is deeply worried that the situation is likely to get worse if nothing is done. This thought gave birth to the Niger Delta Games, in fulfilment of Ikpokpo’s great vision.”

On a recent retreat held in Benin City ahead of the 2026 Game, Porbeni said: “We had one in Asaba around May last year after the maiden edition of the Games. Certain areas where we had lapses were observed, and strategic steps were put in place to improve them.

“During the retreat in Benin City, chairmen of the various committees came out to present their state of readiness. We expect to witness a remarkable improvement in the area of accreditation, and long queues will be eradicated. The screening committee has been given a marching order to reduce the issue of age cheats and non-indigeneship to zero.

“Both the transport committee and the secretaries of states’ liaison committees are to ensure that athletes and coaches attending the Games ride in comfortable air-conditioned vehicles. We are seriously looking forward to a much better second edition of the Niger Delta Games.

“To effectively achieve our grassroots sports development drive in the Niger Delta region, funds were earmarked for trials to commence right from the wards in each state’s LGAs, utilising the Federal geopolitical system, where qualified athletes move to Intra-LGA trials and finally the state finals to produce the final state teams. With this methodology, total grassroots participation is guaranteed.”