The Niger Delta Sports Festival (NDSF) torch has begun its tour of the participating nine states in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State after being lit and cheered on by a throng of enthusiatic athletes, sports administrators, government officials and the general public.

The ceremonial festival ritual at the Samson Siasia Stadium where the State Deputy Governor, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo was presented the Torch by the State Commissioner for Sports, Hon. Daniel Igali who had received from the State Director of Sports, Sir Braveman Wodi.

Ewhrudjakpo in his brief remarks at the ceremony said the state would excel at the festival which holds in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State from April 1-8.

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“Bayelsa state is very ready and will be among the three states to mount the podium at the end of the games”, the state’s second citizen told the moderate crowd.

It was the Director of Sports and Vice Chairman Bayelsa State Committee, Sir Wodi, who lighted the torch at the stadium entrance in company of the committee members, coaches and athletes before moving towards the main bowl where he handed it over to the Hon. Igali.

Receiving the Festival Torch, the Deputy Governor who gave thumbs up to the sponsors for the initiative, emphasized the importance of sports to the socioeconomic development of every society, including spoting raw talents, and engaging them into meaningful ventures.

Senator Ewhrudjakpo who represented the Governor at the brief event, stressed the priorities of the state to include education and sports due to the involvement of youths in both sectors, hence, Bayelsa’s active participation and dominance in almost all sporting events in the country, adding that the Niger Delta Sports Festival will not be an exception.

He said, “I wish to express the sentiments and emotions of Bayelsa State to the Niger Delta Development Commission for bringing out resources to sponsor this competition which is it’s maiden edition.”

“We believe that this sports festival will discover hidden talents across the Niger Delta region. For us as a state, sports is not just a festival but a tool for crime control and also a tool for empowerment of our youths and liberation of minds.”

To the athletes, he said, “Please be at your best, go and come back with victory, and for all that is needed to excel, be rest assured that your government will be there for you”.

Hon. Igali said the festival will give the Niger Delta states a sense of belonging in the realm of sports, and give the state enough grounds to prepare for the National Sports Festival.

On Bayelsa being the first state to light the torch, the Commissioner said, “The Unity Torch started today with Bayelsa, which signifies the importance of the state in the Niger Delta and a good sign that we are noted in sports in the region and Nigeria at large.”

“We have seventeen sports, and we will be participating in all the seventeen sports in Uyo, and we are ready”.

Director of Sports, Sir Wodi, noted the importance of the Niger Delta Sports Festival,saying “it will further expose more talents, and we will use the games for our preparation for the National Sports Festival”.

Also present at the event was the representative of the Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Mrs Itekesi Walama, who added that preparations were in top gear, as the interventionist agency was ready to receive the nine Niger Delta states, in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom state capital.

Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen has etched his name further into the history books after surpassing the legendary Segun Odegbami on Nigeria’s all-time goal-scoring chart.

Osimhen netted his 24th international goal during Nigeria’s crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying match against Rwanda on Friday.

The Galatasaray forward found the back of the net in style, converting a well-delivered free kick from Ademola Lookman with a clinical finish at the far post to give Nigeria the lead.

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The goal not only secured a crucial advantage for the Super Eagles but also saw Osimhen climb to second place on Nigeria’s top scorer list, edging past Odegbami, who had held the record for decades.

With this milestone, the 26-year-old now sets his sights on breaking the long-standing record of Nigeria’s greatest-ever goal poacher, the late Rashidi Yekini, who remains the country’s all-time top scorer with 37 goals.

Osimhen, playing in his first match of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, reached the 24-goal mark in just 39 appearances for the Super Eagles.

His record-equalling moment had come last November when he scored in Nigeria’s 1-1 draw against Benin Republic during the 2025 AFCON qualifiers.

Beyond his international exploits, Osimhen has been in red-hot form at club level this season.

The prolific forward has bagged 20 goals and provided four assists in 20 Super Lig appearances for Galatasaray, who are leading the Turkish league.

Across all competitions, he boasts an impressive tally of 26 goals and five assists in 30 matches.

The Group Managing Director of GTI, Abubakar Lawal, has reiterated the desire of his company to ensure the total restructuring and repositioning of Nigerian football to match what is seen in other climes, where the game if professionally managed.

Lawal spoke after being honoured with an award at the just concluded Newstap/SWAN 5-Star Award ceremony in Lagos.

He maintained that the recognition given to him by the organisers of the event will spur him and GTI to do more for the benefit of the sports ecosystem.

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In his words, “I’m delighted that the umbrella body of sports journalists in this country, SWAN and a leading online media platform, Newstap recognized our huge investment towards reviving the Nigeria Premier Football League and the President Federation Cup. For us in GTI, this award is too dear to us and that was why I came here with my lovely wife and the GTI team to witness this auspicious occasion.

“This award will spur us to do more for the country’s elite league and our President Federation Cup because GTI is keen in uplifting Nigerian football.

“Today, is a historic day in GTI Group and I thank all who made this event possible as we have just witnessed a fantastic event that is full of glamour.”

Lawal used the opportunity to thank the Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Shehu Dikko for his efforts at reviving sports since he took office and also believing in the vision of GTI at restructuring the beautiful game in Nigeria.

“I want to thank the NSC chairman, Mallam Shehu Dikko and Barrister Seyi Akinwunmi for their support which culminated in the emergence of GTI into our sports ecosystem. I also thank the media for believing in our dream of providing a lasting solution to the problems confronting our elite league and President Federation Cup.

“Our project on the NPFL is in three phases and I want to use this opportunity to state that as strategic partners to the NPFL, GTI has successfully completed our first phase of intervention in the elite league. Today, NPFL is visible globally and enjoys improved organisation cum management.

“We are now into the second phase in which we will see our clubs being managed more professionally with improved welfare for the players. This will help stem the mass exodus of our quality players to many obscure leagues in the world.

“Finally, I want to say kudos to other awardees tonight and Hon. Kunle Soname for setting the benchmark for other NPFL clubs to emulate when it comes to club management. For us at GTI, the best is yet to come,” he concluded.