The stage was set, the anticipation high, and Team Ondo wasted no time in making a bold statement at the inaugural Niger Delta Sports Festival (NDSF) in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.
Arriving first on March 30, 2025, the contingent demonstrated their readiness and set the tone for an electrifying competition.
With a powerful squad of 313 athletes and 56 coaches, Team Ondo received a warm welcome from the festival’s Accommodation, Transport, and Administration Committees. Their early arrival gave them a crucial edge—enough time to settle in, fine-tune strategies, and adapt to the competition environment before the games commenced.
The journey to this grand event was anything but ordinary. In a bid to assemble a formidable team, Ondo State held rigorous trials across multiple federal constituencies. From the fields of Adeyemi Federal University of Education in Ondo to the courts of Adekunle Ajasin University in Akungba-Akoko, elite athletes were put to the test in football, volleyball, handball, and more. Only the best earned a spot on the team, ensuring that Ondo’s representatives were primed for success.
Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa added to the excitement as he graced the opening ceremony at the Uyo Township Stadium. His words of encouragement—urging Team Ondo to strive for excellence and bring home laurels—served as a powerful morale booster. His presence also underscored the state’s unwavering commitment to sports development and regional unity.
Another sports enthusiast who has made remarkable impact in Grassroots Sports Development in Ondo State, Chief Akinboni Koleola Benson Osebaba also encouraged Team Ondo as they kickstart the journey to glory at the ongoing sports festival.
As the Niger Delta Sports Festival unfolds from April 1 to 9, 2025, with nine states competing in 17 sporting events—including wrestling, boxing, athletics, table tennis, and football—Team Ondo stands at the forefront, determined to make an indelible mark.
With a perfect blend of preparation, talent, and state-backed motivation, Team Ondo has not just arrived at the festival; they have stormed in with a mission—to dominate, inspire, and etch their names in sporting history.
