Akwa Ibom State Governor, Umo Eno, has assured of the state’s readiness to host the maiden edition of the Niger Delta Sports Festival, pledging a top-notch event that will strengthen regional unity and showcase local talents.

Speaking on Friday in Uyo during a courtesy visit by a delegation from the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) led by its Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, Governor Eno expressed gratitude for the choice of Akwa Ibom as the festival’s venue.

“Sports remain a veritable source of strengthening the existing bonds among the Niger Delta states and its people,” Eno said, emphasizing the festival’s role in fostering collaboration and boosting the local economy. He assured the NDDC team that the state government would set up a working committee to ensure the event’s success.

Dr. Ogbuku highlighted the NDDC’s vision behind the festival, stating that beyond infrastructure development, the commission is committed to uniting the region and promoting its abundant sporting talents.

“The unanimous adoption of Uyo as the venue for this event was occasioned by the serenity of the state and the availability of requisite infrastructure,” he said.

According to Ogbuku, the festival, scheduled for April 1-8, marks the NDDC’s 25th anniversary and will feature 20 sporting events at the Goodwill Akpabio International Stadium.

“It is not only because Akwa Ibom is the Promise Land, but Akwa Ibom has also been able to provide the right facilities to accommodate the 20 sporting events that we are putting together for the Niger Delta Sports Festival,” he added.

Athletes, sports enthusiasts, and stakeholders from the nine states of the Niger Delta are expected to converge in Uyo for the one-week sporting extravaganza.

Gov. Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa has pledged to continue to provide world class training opportunities for youth, civil servants and entrepreneurs to make them competitive in the global digital economy.

Fintiri said this at the graduation of 50 youths on digital skills in Yola on Thursday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that each of the beneficiaries was presented with a starter pack.

Fintiri, who was represented by his Special Adviser on ICT and e-economy, Hammanjam Adamu, said the initiative aimed to empower youth to be self-reliant and employers of labour.

“We have embarked on an ambitious journey to position Adamawa State as a digital hub, fostering innovation, creativity, and entrepreneurship.

“The State Government remains committed to supporting your growth with initiatives like the ICT Technical Talent Program.

“We aim to train 100,000 youth in Adamawa State in various technical and digital skills over the next few years,” he said.

Fintiri encouraged the beneficiaries to apply the knowledge acquired to stay connected and to continue learning for more success.

Hammanjumba Gatugel, Commissioner for Ministry Entrepreneurship Development, said the participants were drawn across 21 Local Government Areas.

They said they were under gone intensive training on Digital Marketing, Graphic Design, Website Development and Modern workplace Digital Communication Courses.

“The training has provided the beneficiaries with Digital skills to enable them compete with their counter-part globally, also with the knowledge make informed decision in the Digital world,” he said.

According to him, the programme will enhance their employability and readiness to open wide range of employment opportunities including media, advertisement, marketing and design.

The commissioner also advised the beneficiaries against selling their starter kits so as not to defeat the aim of the training.

Arabo Ishaq, Chief Executive Officer, Datarose represented by Abdulmalik Adamu, a resource person, appreciated Adamawa government for the opportunity.

He said, the beneficiaries could now develop website among others skills acquired.

“We have a beneficiary that is about to get married and designed his invitation letters with the skills he acquired he acquired during the training,” he said.

Iya Bamalam who spoke on behalf of the beneficiaries appreciated the opportunity and assured to apply the skills effectively.

The police on Thursday arraigned a 51-year-old man, Stanley Offor, before an Ikeja High Court for alleged forgery and forceful takeover of a landed property.

Offor is facing a four-count charge of conspiracy, forgery, and illegal occupation of property and forceful takeover of landed property.

The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

The Police Prosecutor, Mr Emmanuel Jackson, prayed for a trial date and requested that the court remand the defendant pending the commencement of trial.

The Defence Counsel, Mr Peter Madukwe, however, informed the court that he had filed an application for bail, which had been served on the prosecution.

Madukwe prayed the court to admit the defendant to bail on liberal terms.

Justice Ismail Ijelu adjourned the case until Feb. 17 for ruling on the bail application and the commencement of trial.

Earlier, the prosecution told the court that the defendant allegedly committed the offences with others still at large sometime in 2016 in Lagos.

Jackson alleged that the defendant forged the signature and receipts of one late Mrs Comfort Eruchalu, purporting that they had been made by her to facilitate the sublease of her property to a third party.

The prosecution further submitted that the defendant allegedly occupied a property belonging to Cool Comfort Africa Ltd, located behind Atiku Abubakar Hall 3, Trade Fair Complex in Lagos, as an encroacher.

The defendant, according to the prosecution, failed to vacate the said property after being required to do so on behalf of the property’s owner.

He said the alleged offences violated Sections 2 (2), 4(1) of the Lagos State Property Protection Law, 2016, and Section 516 (1) of the Criminal Code C38, Law of the Federation of Nigeria 2024.

It also violates Section 365(1) of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2015.