The Delta State Sports Commission has declared that it will not accept any move by the National Sports Commission (NSC) to transfer the hosting rights of the 10th edition of the National Youth Games (NYG) to Lagos State.
The Commission’s Acting Director General, Ms. Emuobo Egalase, made this known during a press briefing at her office in the Stephen Keshi International Stadium, Asaba.
Egalase emphasized that Delta State still has a valid Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in 2023 with the then Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development—now the NSC—to host four consecutive editions of the Games.
She stressed that the change of nomenclature from the Ministry to the NSC does not invalidate the agreement. According to her, any attempt to take the Games away from Delta would reflect “distrust and lack of integrity” on the part of the nation’s sports governing body.
“The MoU signed between both parties still subsists, and Delta State has not rescinded its decision to host the cadet championship. The State remains committed to hosting the 10th edition of the Games in line with that agreement,” Egalase stated.
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She further noted that Nigeria has greatly benefited from Delta’s leading role in sports development and reiterated that the state remains steadfast in its commitment to nurturing talents and promoting sports excellence.
The Commission assured that Delta is prepared to welcome athletes and officials from across the country when the Games take place in September 2026.
Meanwhile, the Delta State Sports Commissioner has urged the NSC to consider Lagos State as the host of the maiden National Intermediate Games, a new competition designed to bridge the gap for athletes transitioning from youth to adulthood.
