As part of activities marking his first year in office, the Executive Chairman of the Edo State Sports Commission, Hon. Amadin Desmond Enabulele, featured on Sports Waka, a flagship sports programme on Super FM 88.1, where he reviewed the Commission’s achievements and shared plans for the year ahead.
In a statement issued by his Media Officer, Edoko Wilson Edoko, Enabulele commended the Executive Governor of Edo State, Senator Monday Okpebholo, for his unwavering support for sports development, describing the Governor’s commitment to athlete and coach welfare as central to the Commission’s stability and growing successes.
He said Governor Okpebholo gave a clear mandate to prioritise grassroots talent identification and development, a vision anchored on the administration’s “catch them young” philosophy.
“The Governor mandated us to identify and develop talents from the grassroots. Over the past year, this directive has guided our work as we engage schools and communities across the state,” Enabulele said.
He disclosed that several school-based and community tournaments have already been organised, with plans underway to extend structured grassroots sports programmes to riverine communities.
On major competitions, Enabulele announced that Edo State has secured hosting rights for the Niger Delta Games, citing the state’s modern sporting facilities and equipment. He said the Games are scheduled to hold from February 20 to 27, 2026.
He also revealed plans to host the Edo State Sports Festival and a major athletics meet, beginning from the local government level to ensure wider participation and effective talent discovery.
In furtherance of athletics development, Enabulele said the Commission is planning what he described as the biggest athletics meet in Edo State, alongside a major aquatic sports tournament, with the finals to take place at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium.
Highlighting Edo’s strength in kickboxing, he noted that the state won over 20 gold medals at the last National Sports Festival in Ogun State, adding that a kickboxing tournament is being planned to further harness emerging talents.
Enabulele also stated that Edo State currently boasts the best gymnastics facility in Nigeria, made possible by Governor Okpebholo’s commitment to sports infrastructure. Plans are therefore in place to host a gymnastics competition to maximise the use of the facility.
He further noted that while the construction of sports facilities across the 18 local government areas was initiated by a previous administration, only a few were completed. According to him, the current administration plans to build three additional sports facilities in the coming year to deepen grassroots sports development across the state.
