Delta State Insists on Hosting 2026 National Youth Games
By Ikemefuna Asika
Delta State, through its Sports Commission, has reaffirmed its stance that it will not accept any decision by the National Sports Commission (NSC) to transfer the hosting rights of the 2026 National Youth Games (NYG) to Lagos.
Speaking at a press briefing held at the Stephen Keshi Stadium in Asaba, the acting Director General of the Delta State Sports Commission, Ms. Muobo Igalase, emphasized that the state remains bound by the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) it signed in 2023 with the then Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development—now the NSC—to host four consecutive editions of the Games.
According to Ms. Igalase, Delta State’s contributions to Nigerian sports cannot be underestimated, having consistently produced elite athletes across multiple disciplines including athletics, football, boxing, swimming, and weightlifting—many of whom have excelled on both continental and global stages.
“Delta has demonstrated the capacity, infrastructure, and passion to nurture raw talent into national treasures,” she stated.
“From school sports festivals to grassroots tournaments, the state has built a robust system that sustains Nigeria’s sporting dreams.” she said .
Ms. Igalase further revealed that, in addition to the existing facilities in Asaba, the state is currently remodeling and upgrading the Warri City Stadium into an ultra-modern sports complex, scheduled for commissioning later this year.
She noted that the revamped stadium forms part of the state government’s long-term commitment to sports development and is projected to serve as one of the venues for the 2026 Youth Games.
“With Asaba already proven as a reliable host city and Warri preparing to unveil a world-class stadium, Delta is not only ready but also strategically positioned to elevate the next edition of the Games,” she said.
Ms. Igalase also addressed the administrative transition from the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development to the National Sports Commission, asserting that the name change does not nullify the existing MoU.
She described any move to reassign hosting rights as “a breach of trust and a disregard for a binding agreement.”
She reiterated that Delta State is fully prepared to welcome participants from across the country in September 2026, expressing confidence that the state will once again set the benchmark in talent discovery and youth sports development.
Meanwhile, the Delta State Sports Commission urged the NSC to consider Lagos as the host for the inaugural edition of the proposed National Intermediate Games a new competition designed to bridge the gap between the National Youth Games and senior-level sporting careers.
Ms. Igalase noted that Lagos, as Nigeria’s commercial capital, is well positioned to pioneer the initiative, just as it has led several national sports innovations in the past.
Widely regarded as Nigeria’s sporting heartbeat, Delta State has successfully hosted the last three editions of the National Youth Games. State officials insist that Delta’s sustained investment in infrastructure and its unmatched record in talent development make it the natural home for the cadet championship.
It will be recalled that Delta State assumed hosting duties for the NYG following the tenure of Kwara State.
