Local Government Festival flags off today in Delta State

The Delta State Local Government Sports Festival will start today at the Stephen Keshi Stadium in Asaba.

The festival, which is under the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), will be held from February 14 to 16.

ALGON chairman Victor Ebonka explained in a statement that the local government councils, under the aegis of ALGON's Delta State chapter, set up the festival to drive grassroots sports development in the communities.

He added that sports can be used to transform the lives of their members.

Ayenuro Tate, Chukwuma Obim, and David Ashe, three of the talents discovered during the first edition, were all included in the Delta State delegation to the most recent National Youth Games held in Ilorin, Kwara State, while others participated in the national trials for the African Youth Games in Morocco in 2022.

The statement read, “In further driving home the point that sports can be used to transform lives, ALGON Delta is organizing the second edition of the Delta State Local Government Sports Festival taking place from February 14 to 16, 2023 at the Stephen Keshi Stadium, Asaba at 2pm, while the closing ceremony will take place on February 15th at same venue at 2pm.

“The first edition, which took place between July 6 and 8, 2021 in Asaba featured athletics events with Oshimili South Local Government winning the maiden edition and Warri South Local Government finishing second.”

Meanwhile, the Delta State Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, will declare open the second Delta State Local Governments Sports Festival.