By 9jaeye 
Delta State has once again cemented its dominance in the 8th edition of the National Youth Games, emerging as the overall winner with a total of 111 medals. This year’s event, held from September 12th to November 19th, 2024, saw participation from all 36 states of Nigeria and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The games, which promote youth development through sports, featured fierce competition across various disciplines. At the end of the event, Delta State stood tall with the highest number of medals, reclaiming the title they had also won in the previous edition.
Top Performers in the 8th National Youth Games:
- 1st Place: Delta State – 111 medals
- 2nd Place: Lagos State – 65 medals
- 3rd Place: Edo State – 59 medals
- 4th Place: Bayelsa State – 59 medals
- 5th Place: Kwara State – 33 medals
With this win, Delta State will also host the next edition of the National Youth Games, continuing their remarkable streak both as hosts and champions.
Lagos and Edo States put up strong performances, finishing second and third, respectively. While both Edo State and Bayelsa State secured the same number of medals (59), Edo took third place based on better gold medal count, which is a common tiebreaker in competitive events like this.
Kwara State rounded off the top five with 33 medals, demonstrating the rising talent in sports across Nigeria.
The closing ceremony was a vibrant celebration of youth sports in Nigeria. Popular music star, Harry B, lit up the event with performances of two of his hit songs, giving attendees a memorable way to conclude the 8th National Youth Games.
The success of the event was attributed to the well-structured efforts of the local organizing committee, handpicked and approved by Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State in August 2024. The seven-member committee was tasked with planning and executing the 8th edition of the games.
The committee was chaired by Chief Solomon Ogba, with notable members including Chief Tonobok Okowa, Chief Chinoye Daphey Aliu, Victor Onogagamue, Onoriode Oborevwori, and Harrison Ocholor. The committee’s secretary was Mr. Festus Ohwojero.
Their collective efforts ensured that the event was well-organized, maintaining the standards expected from a national competition of this scale.
By Edith Edevbie of the Eagle Eye News