Ikpokpo Unveils Plans to Upskill Coaches, Technical Officials Ahead of 2026 Niger Delta Games
The Managing Director of Dunamis Icon Limited and Managing Consultant of the Niger Delta Games (NDG), Sir Itiako Ikpokpo (KSM), has revealed plans to introduce a comprehensive training programme for coaches and technical officials ahead of the 2026 edition of the Games.
Speaking on Channels Sports on Sunday, Ikpokpo stressed that improving the competence of personnel responsible for talent development is essential to sustaining the long-term success of the regional sports project. He decried the poor remuneration of coaches across the country, questioning how they are expected to travel to grassroots communities to discover emerging talents without adequate support.
Ikpokpo announced that the organisers, in partnership with the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and, specifically for the 2026 event, the Nigeria Local Content Development and Management Board, will hold a capacity-building workshop in January for coaches and technical officials.
He also urged governments at both state and federal levels to prioritise sports investment in the same manner they fund major infrastructure projects.
“For us to make any meaningful impact in sports, government must invest in sports infrastructure. It is good to build roads and hospitals, but it is equally important that we invest in sports facilities,” he said.
Highlighting the wider infrastructural deficiencies affecting sports growth, the Delta State Athletics Association chairman lamented the increasing trend of constructing schools without provision for sporting facilities.
“The schools are the cradle of sports development, yet people build schools with no sports grounds,” Ikpokpo stated.
Looking ahead, he assured that the second edition of the Niger Delta Games, scheduled to take place in Benin City, Edo State, will surpass the previous edition in organisation, quality, and overall delivery.
