Ikpokpo Hails Commonwealth Games Selection of Niger Delta Games Stars

Chairman of the Delta State Athletics Association, Sir Itiako Ikpokpo (KSM), has expressed delight over the selection of several standout athletes from the Niger Delta Games (NDG) to represent Team Nigeria at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland.

Ikpokpo described the inclusion of the athletes in the national team as a strong endorsement of the Niger Delta’s sustained contribution to Nigerian athletics and the success of its investment in grassroots talent development and high-performance training.

Speaking on the achievement, the Delta State Athletics Association chairman, who is also the Managing Director of Dunamis-Icon Limited, promoters of the Niger Delta Games, said the progression of athletes from the domestic competition to the international stage demonstrates the effectiveness of the NDG development model.

“Seeing our NDG champions and emerging talents earn places in Team Nigeria for an event as prestigious as the Commonwealth Games is a proud moment for all of us,” Ikpokpo said.

“This is not a stroke of luck. It is the result of the deliberate, data-driven development framework we have established across the Niger Delta states. We have always believed in identifying young talents, nurturing their potential and giving them the competitive exposure required to become world-class athletes.”

He noted that Delta State has long been recognised as one of Nigeria’s foremost producers of elite athletes, consistently supplying competitors capable of winning medals on the international stage.

According to him, the latest crop of Niger Delta Games athletes possesses the mentality, discipline and physical preparation required to compete successfully against the world’s best.

“These athletes carry the hopes of not only the Niger Delta region but the entire nation. We have watched them put in countless hours of hard work behind the scenes.

“The Niger Delta Games platform was created to produce champions, and we are confident they will deliver outstanding performances and make Nigeria proud in Glasgow.”

Ikpokpo also reaffirmed the Delta State Athletics Association’s commitment to supporting the athletes as they continue preparations in Team Nigeria’s training camps ahead of the Games.

He pledged that the association would continue to provide the necessary technical, moral and logistical support to ensure the athletes are fully prepared to compete at the highest level.

The 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow will offer the selected athletes another opportunity to showcase the depth of talent emerging from the Niger Delta, while reinforcing the region’s reputation as one of Nigeria’s leading centres for athletics development.