Niger Delta Games: Team Imo Applauded As First Gold Sparks Medal Surge

The Chairman of the Imo State Sports Commission, Hon. Prince Sir (Amb.) Eleazer Onyewuchi Ogbonna, has lauded Team Imo athletes for their impressive performances at the ongoing 2nd Niger Delta Games in Benin City. His commendation follows the state’s breakthrough gold medal and a significant climb up the medal table.

In a statement from his media office, Amb. Ogbonna praised the athletes as “true ambassadors of the Eastern Heartland,” highlighting their resilience, discipline, and hunger for success.

Sunday, 22nd February 2026, proved a memorable day for Team Imo. Akubueze Martin Awunezie secured the state’s first gold medal in the Men’s 65kg Para Powerlifting event, lifting a commanding 155kg. This victory ignited further momentum, leading to a flurry of podium finishes. Gerald Ukandu also clinched gold in the Boys’ Discus event, marking Imo’s second gold of the competition.

Amb. Ogbonna hailed Awunezie’s triumph as a symbol of the “Spartans spirit” embodying Imo athletes. “This gold medal is not just a victory for Akubueze Martin Awunezie, but a statement of intent from Imo State. Our athletes have demonstrated courage, resilience and the heart of champions,” he stated.

The team’s medal tally now stands at nine – two gold, three silver, and five bronze – which the Chairman attributed to strategic investment in youth and sports development. Notable performances include Ifechukwu Esther Nwankwo’s silver in the women’s 400m hurdles (62.24 seconds) and Blessing Ukaoha’s bronze in the shot put.

In Para Powerlifting, Eugenia Chioma Enwere secured silver (Women’s 45kg, 70kg), while Nkemjika Cletus Iwuoha (Men’s 72kg, 145kg), Ujunwa Chinyere Obianuju (Women’s 86+kg, 90kg), and Kasarachi Maryjane Ugochukwu (Women’s 67kg, 82kg) all earned bronze. Wisdom Metu (Taekwondo, Men’s 58kg) and Christogonus Umeyor (Traditional Wrestling, Men’s 62kg) also contributed bronze medals.

Amb. Ogbonna credited Governor Hope Uzodimma’s “Shared Prosperity” agenda for the consistent rise in Imo sports, emphasising its role in youth empowerment through sports. He encouraged the athletes to maintain their focus, urging them to “keep believing, keep pushing, and go for more gold.”

With medal hopes still high in various events, Team Imo aims to surpass its previous performance in Uyo and solidify its reputation as a burgeoning sporting powerhouse in the Niger Delta region.