By Ben Efe 23.2.2026
Sports entrepreneur and Chief organiser of the Warri Effurun Peace Marathon, Joyce Bozimo has hailed the concept of the Niger Delta Games and its organisation.
Barrister Mrs Bozimo spent four days observing the Games hosted by Edo State. She noted that giving the youths a platform to exhibit their sporting talents is a commendable venture.
“The Niger Delta Games is well organised kudos to the sponsor and organising committee, they have done a good job.
“I was also at the first edition and I must say I am pleased to know that the second edition was restricted to U-20.
“At the first edition we were seeing old faces, this defeats the purpose of the Games, which is the discovery of fresh talents.”
Barrister Bozimo said the track and field competition among the participating states was keen and the athletes have were fantastic.
“The Niger Delta is blessed with sporting talents and it is great having the Games to enable us see the athletes compete.
“I’ve seen so many talented athletes from Delta, Edo, Akwa Ibom and it was thrilling watching them.”
She called on the States to follow up on the athletes by ensuring that they are trained and retrained for them to achieve their potentials.
“I’ve seen some magnificent kids who could become world champions if they are followed up.
“It would be nice if we can have a camp for them like back in the days when we used to have the Afuze camp set up by Samuel Ogbemudia.
“if we can have a place like that with good technical back up, good counsel, so that the kids don’t deviate, we can groom these athletes to world standards.”
Barrister Bozimo added that with this measure Nigeria can boast of a large pool of athletes.
“If we can train our athletes, give them the right motivation, Nigeria wouldn’t be short of world class athletes.”