…as 4th Gov Diri National Wrestling Classics Gets Underway in Yenagoa.
From Kenechukwu Obiajuru, Yenagoa
Bayelsa State Government says the ongoing construction of the 30,000 capacity ultra-modern stadium In Igbogene, Yenagoa will be ready to host the National Sports Festival in Bayelsa tagged the Prosperity Games in 2028.
The Commissioner for Sports Development, Dr. Daniel Igali gave the assurance at a media parley held in Yenagoa in preparation for the 4th Gov Diri National Wrestling Classics.
He noted that the news of the award of the hosting right to Bayelsa has gladdened the hearts of Bayelsans, that hosting the National Sports Festival in Bayelsa was momentous, stating that Bayelsa met all the needed requirements to host the nation’s version of the Olympics in Yenagoa.
According to him, Bayelsa would be hosting over fifteen thousand athletes, officials in twenty sports in the next two years as well as ensuring the entire country understands the culture of the people of Bayelsa during the festival.
Dr Igali explained that hosting the National Sports Festival in the State provides an opportunity for Bayelsa to acquire more sporting facilities across the State, maintaining that the “Prosperity Games” would give the State an avenue for younger athletes to have the best sports facilities to prepare for events.
The commissioner asserted that due to the importance accorded to the hosting of the National Sports Festival Governor Douye Diri has approved the construction of a 5,000-capacity stadium at Sampou in Kolokuma-Opokuma of Bayelsa State, stressing that the idea was to have more than one stadium host the fiesta.
Dr Igali hinted that the government would soon embark on upgrading existing sports facilities in the State including the Samson Siasia Stadium, stating that the tracks at the stadium would be changed to modern tracks in preparation for the 2028 festival.
While appreciating Governor, Senator Douye Diri for ensuring that Bayelsa joins the leading sporting states in the nation, the former Wrestling Federation boss assured Nigerians that Bayelsa would host the most athletes-friendly and complete festival in the history of the Games.
On accommodation, Dr Igali stressed that hostels at the Niger Delta University, Federal University, Otuoke, Bayelsa Medical University, BMU, the hostels at the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC Orientation Camp at Kaiama, and the games village that would be constructed at the stadium in Igbogene that would take over fifteen thousand athletes for the Games.
He stressed that due to the 2028 National Sports Festival, the National Sports Commission would be building an Olympic-sized swimming pool in Bayelsa, that search for a space to construct the pool has already commenced, emphasizing that the pool would be a five thousand capacity swimming pool capable of hosting international competitions.
He appreciated the governor, Senator Douye Diri and the deputy governor, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo for giving the development of sports premium attention, adding that the “Prosperity Games” would rewrite the Bayelsa story.
In the meantime, the 4th Governor Douye Diri National Wrestling Classics commences on the 12th of December, 2025 with hostilities from the annual event beginning on the 14th December, 2025.
