Sir Itiako Ikpokpo, the 2026 Sportsville’s nominee for Sport’s Personality of the Year award, has in his first reaction to the announcement of the award, said that the honour goes to the athletes, coaches, technical officials, the media and the fans that made the games a success.
Ikpokpo also expressed appreciation to the organizers for finding him worthy of such honour in a country with millions of persons striving to make sports impactful in society.
“I am happy and privileged to be nominated for this huge honour.
Nigeria’s sports landscape is one you are hardly recognized or remembered for your contributions, and for such recognition, coming my way at this point in time shows that people are taking note of one’s contributions.
“So, in a nutshell, I am glad to be considered worthy of this great honour,” thesoft-spokenn Managing Director of Dunamis Icon, the company behind the Niger Delta Games, added.
An acclaimed team player, Ikpokpo, didn’t hesitate to exhibit this rare trait when he was asked what the award meant to him.
“This award is for all of us team members of the Niger Delta Games. Trust me, we have a very dedicated team who believe in the vision to turn Nigeria Sports around, and to them, I say this recognition is for us all.
“With this recognition, it means more work, more work to discover budding talents in the Niger Delta Region, more work to train and empower coaches and more work to get these talents to bring laurels to the country in years to come”, he responded in a virtual interview.
A two-term Isoko South Local Government Chairman and currently Chairman, Delta State Athletics Association, Ikpokpo, famously called Malik by acquaintances, spoke of his vision for the Games and for Nigeria as a whole.
“We are here to add value by unearthing young talents from the Niger Delta Region, hone their skills so that our nation, Nigeria, can consistently be among the best in the world.
“Two years down the line, I can confidently say we are on course in our vision. That is why I won’t be tired of appreciating all of you for believing in us. Together, we will shape a brighter future for Nigerian sports,” he concluded.
Sportsville Sports Personality of the Year Award, the highest award category, is reserved for top performers and those shaping the fortune of Nigeria’s sports.
Last year’s edition was won by Dr Uyi Akpata, thetwo-timee President of Nigeria Cricket Federation, while the 2024 edition went to Hon Gbenga Elegbeleye, the Chairman of the Nigeria Premier Football League Board.
This year’s edition, the 6th in the series, will be chaired by one of the nation’s most respected sports personalities, Dr Larry Izamoje. The ceremony will be held at the Lagos Country Club, ikeja Lagos, on March 28th
