Edo Receives National Sports Festival Torch
By Godspower Eguasa
The Edo State Government on Wednesday, 7th May, 2025, received the Torch of Unity for the 22nd National Sports Festival, ahead of the event, which is scheduled for 16th to 30th May, 2025, in Ogun State.
The State Governor, Sen. Monday Okpebholo, represented by his Deputy, Rt. Hon. Dennis Idahosa, received the Torch from the Team Lead of the National Sports Commission delegation, Mbora Ikana, at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City.
While receiving the Torch, Rt. Hon. Idahosa commended the giant strides of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in transforming the Country’s Sports Sector, uniting the people, and rekindling hopes amongst Nigerian youths. He expressed optimism on the outcome of the forthcoming National Sports Festival, noting that with the magnitude of investment and commitment by the Sen. Okpebholo-led administration in revamping the Sports Sector of the State, the Edo Team will make Edo people proud.
In his words, “I want to thank His Excellency, President Ahmed Bola Tinubu, GCFR, for using sports to bring the youths of Edo State and across the Country, together. For us in Edo, we are ready to support the Edo State Sports Commission to win medals, and we are very sure that they are going to come home with medals”.
The Chairman of the Edo State Sports Commission, Hon. Desmond Amadin Enabulele while commending the laudable impact of Sen. Okpebholo in equipping and transforming the Sports Sector of the State, stated the State’s preparedness to emerge victorious in the forthcoming National Sports Festival.
According to Enabulele, “Today the Unity Torch came to Benin, and as you know, the Torch stands for unity; sport is one of the things that bring Nigerians together. We would all be gathering in Ogun State from the 16th to the 30th of May, 2025. Edo State is known for sports. When you say Edo State, you say Sports. In the last Sports Festival we came out third, but this time around, the Governor, distinguished Sen. Monday Okpebholo has given us the support that we need. So, this time around, we know that Edo State is going to come out top there.”
In her remarks, the team lead for the National Sports Festival Torch on behalf of the National Sports Commission, Mbora Ikana, while commending the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, expressed optimism on the success of the forthcoming National Sports Festival and its impact in nurturing young talents amongst youths in the State and the Country at large.
“On behalf of the National Sports Commission that was mandated by the President, Ahmed Tinubu, to take the Torch round the 36 states including Abuja, we are in Edo State today, and the essence of the Torch is to invite the State to the Festival and to create awareness that sport is the most unifying platform in our Country and we are supposed to harness the talents of our youths through sports”, Ikana concluded.
