Akwa Ibom State Governor, Umo Eno, yesterday received the Niger Delta Sports Festival torch shortly before the opening ceremony of the games at the Uyo Township Stadium.
The torch was presented to Governor Eno, being the host governor, by an Akwa Ibom-born Olympic medallist, Aniefiok Udobong, in company of top echelon in the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), led by the executive director, Victor Antai.
Receiving the torch, the governor thanked the leadership of the commission for the initiative to organise the first-ever sports festival in the region and giving Akwa Ibom hosting rights for the maiden edition.
Governor Eno expressed the belief that the games would foster deeper regional integration among states in the Niger Delta region.
The director of finance in NDDC and chairman, main organising committee for the Niger Delta Sports Festival, Alabo Boma Iyaye, said four thousand athletes and officials are in the state for the maiden Niger Delta Sports Festival.
According to Iyaye, seventeen sports will be competed for in the sport fiesta, which will have nine states of the Niger Delta states participating.