The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), marking its 25th anniversary, sponsored a sports festival and has reaffirmed its dedication to transparency and sports development as a means to empower the youth in the Niger Delta region. Alabo Boma Iyaye, the Executive Director of Finance and Administration at the NDDC and chairman of the NDSF Main Organising Committee (MOC), highlighted the festival's role in fostering unity among the region's youth, creating lasting memories.

Iyaye noted the widespread commendations received and the MOC's recommendation to the NDDC Board to hold the festival biennially. The event significantly impacted Uyo's economy, boosting hotel occupancy, transport services, and local vendors' businesses. The festival translated into job creation, increased visibility for Akwa Ibom State, and a stronger sense of regional identity.

Stakeholders anticipate the NDSF's continuation, with Bayelsa and other states preparing for the 22nd edition of the National Sports Festival (NSF) in Abeokuta. Igali emphasized the need for rest, recovery, and preparation to surpass current achievements. The week-long event in Uyo profoundly impacted many athletes' lives and sparked a renewed awareness of sports' unifying and empowering potential in the region.

The Niger Delta region, from Bayelsa to Delta and Ondo, has demonstrated its wealth of sporting talent beyond the oil and gas sector, underscoring the importance of platforms like the one provided by the NDDC for athletes to excel on the international stage.