The Governor of Edo State, Monday Okpebholo, on Tuesday fulfilled the N30 million pledge he made to Team Edo ahead of the Niger Delta Games.
The governor redeemed the promise during a reception held for the athletes and officials at the Government House in Benin City.
Team Edo emerged as overall winners of the second edition of the Games, securing 52 gold, 34 silver and 25 bronze medals to finish ahead of eight other participating states.
During the event, Okpebholo congratulated the athletes, coaches and sports administrators for their dedication and discipline, which helped the state top the medals table.
He said the victory demonstrates the immense sporting potential within Edo and reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to investing in sports development and nurturing young talents.
According to the governor, the achievement also reflects the determination of his administration to reposition Edo as a major force in Nigerian sports.
Okpebholo recalled that during the opening ceremony of the tournament, he had expressed confidence that Edo would not only host the competition but also emerge as champions.
“Congratulations to my dear state, Edo State, for the victory at the second NDDC Games hosted here in Edo. Some of our athletes will represent Nigeria in the Olympic Games,” he said.
“At the opening ceremony of the NDDC Games Edo 2026, I said Edo State is not just hosting but hosting to win. Today, we have truly won, defeating other states.”
The governor added that the athletes had fulfilled their part of the promise by delivering an impressive performance.
“I promised you ₦30 million if you won, and today you have delivered. We are celebrating because we hosted and we won. You have dominated the medals table and made Edo very proud,” he said.
Okpebholo also stressed the importance of investing in sports development, noting that talents discovered during the competition would be groomed to compete at national and international levels.
“Your talent is something we must harness, build on and invest in so that Edo can produce champions who will represent Nigeria in global competitions,” he added.
The governor further commended the Chairman of the Sports Committee, Amadin Enabulele, and other officials for their efforts in preparing the team for the tournament.
Earlier, Enabulele attributed the team’s success to the governor’s proactive support and early preparation ahead of the competition.
