Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, has assured that the Asaba 2022 National Sports festival will be the best ever hosted in the country.

The Extraordinary Council of Sports meeting held in Asaba, the Delta State capital on Monday, with November 2 to 14, 2022 fixed as the date for the festival.

Okowa said he was motivated to bid for the hosting of the festival following the enthusiasm displayed by the sports minister, Sunday Dare.

“I was almost discouraged from bidding to host the sports festival because of what was happening in Nigerian sports then, but I can see the enthusiasm Sunday Dare has put in since he came,” Okowa said.

“Asaba 2022 will be the best in terms of infrastructure and others that will be in place in the next few months. We have the personal desire to stage a fun-filled and friendly sports festival from the beginning to the end.”

READ ALSO We don’t have resources to meet ASUU demands at once – FG

Speaking on the occasion, Dare, who also unveiled members of the Main Organising Committee, urged Delta State and members of the Local Organising Committee to stage a festival that Nigerians would be proud of.

He said, “The names I saw in the LOC set up by Delta State are familiar names. The task is upon you. We saw the standard at Edo 2020, Asaba 2022 must surpass that standard. I don’t have any doubt in my mind that the Delta State Government will give us the best Games in 2022.”

Dare praised Okowa for the steps he had taken in repositioning sports.

“His (Okowa’s) adoption of 12 Nigerian athletes, the biggest in the Adopt-An-Athlete initiative ahead the Tokyo Olympics Games, played a huge role. I am happy one of the athletes, Ese Brume, got a medal. I am proud of what Okowa has done for sports.”

Chairman of the LOC and Secretary, Delta State Government, Patrick Ukah, pledged they would host a bigger, better and athletes-based sports festival.

Also, Chairman, Delta State Sport’s Commission and co-chairman of the festival, Tonobok Okowa added that the state had embarked on construction of new infrastructure, including the Games Village ahead of the sports festival.