Director of Sports, Bayelsa State Sports Council, Mr. Bibowei Lambert, has celebrated Bayelsa State at 30, describing the State’s 30-year journey as a story of resilience and unity.
In his anniversary message, Lambert, on behalf of the Council, joined other Bayelsans to celebrate the milestone and lauded past leaders, traditional rulers, religious leaders, civil servants and all Bayelsans for building the State since its creation on October 1, 1996.
Lambert said sports in 30 years has witnessed unprecedented feats, with Bayelsa athletes doing the State proud both locally and internationally.
He said Bayelsa’s dominance is evident as the State finished second and third in the last three National Sports Festivals in Asaba, Benin and Abeokuta, a feat he attributed to the resilience of its athletes.
He disclosed that in 2025 alone, Bayelsa emerged champions of the inaugural Niger Delta Games in Uyo, retained the National Para Games title in Abuja, while wrestling queen, Blessing Oborududu, won Olympic silver in Tokyo.
Beyond winning laurels, Lambert said Bayelsa has hosted top national competitions, including the Governor Diri Wrestling Classics and Scrabble Classics, with Bayelsa Queens also conquering West Africa as WAFU Zone B Champions and winning bronze at the CAF Women’s Champions League in Morocco.
Lambert thanked Governor Douye Diri and his deputy for making sports a priority of the Prosperity Administration, saying their sustained investment has made Bayelsa a leading sporting state in Nigeria.
He also hailed Sports Commissioner, Dr. Daniel Igali, as a round peg in a round hole for translating the Governor’s passion into reality, and saluted management, staff, coaches and athletes of the Sports Council for their sacrifices.
