Senator Ned Munir Nwoko, representing Delta North and Chancellor of the Sports University of Nigeria, has congratulated Team Delta for their outstanding performance at the just-concluded Gateway Games 2024, where the state secured its fifth consecutive National Sports Festival title.
The festival, which wrapped up on Thursday, brought together over 10,000 athletes across 549 events, offering a vibrant platform for showcasing talent and resilience from all parts of Nigeria. Team Delta led the medal table with 98 gold, 66 silver, and 80 bronze medals—maintaining a wide margin over their closest competitors, Bayelsa and Ogun States.
Commending the athletes, Senator Nwoko described their victory as a testament to the determination and natural resilience of young Nigerians.
“Our athletes have proven once again that talent abounds in every corner of this country. What we must now do is ensure that talent is not wasted. It must be nurtured, trained, and prepared long before competitions like this,” he said.
The Senator emphasized the importance of institutionalizing sports preparation through year-round training, early athlete identification, and development programs if Nigeria hopes to excel not just at local festivals, but at continental and global stages.
“Winning at home is great, but our ambition should be global. That means deliberate and structured preparation, not last-minute fire brigade approaches. We must start preparing our athletes for tomorrow — today,” he said.
As Chancellor of the Sports University of Nigeria, Nwoko reaffirmed the institution’s commitment to being a hub for advanced training, research, and collaboration in sports science and development.
“The doors of the Sports University remain open to young athletes, coaches, and stakeholders for training, partnership, and continuous improvement. We are building an ecosystem that doesn’t just celebrate wins — we create winners,” he added.
While Delta celebrates its dominance at the national level, Senator Nwoko called on sports administrators across Nigeria to embrace a more proactive and grassroots-driven approach to discovering and nurturing talent.
