Canoeing made a big impression at the inaugural edition of the Niger Delta Sports Festival as promising young Nigerian paddlers showcased their balance on the water.
The first-ever sub-regional multi-sports event in Nigeria brought together athletes from the states of Abia, Akwa-Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River State, Delta, Edo, Imo, Ondo States and Rivers.
Paddlers from all nine states competed in canoeing which was part of a 17-strong sports programme.
Staged at the Ibom Meridien Resort, canoe single and double races ran from April 4 to 6 with medals awarded in the men’s C1 200m, women’s C1 200m, men’s C1 500m, women’s C1 500m, men’s C2 500m and women’s C2 500m.
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Among the competitors was Goodluck Lawrence who hails from the Bayelsa State in southern Nigeria where paddling to fish is part of the fabric of the community.
“It is my dream to turn our natural way of life into something that will attract greatness to my state in sports,” Lawrence told the Niger Delta Sports Festival.
Canoeing is continuing to develop in Nigeria thanks to educational programmes run by the International Canoe Federation.
Nigeria also benefited from the ICF’s domestic boat production scheme back in 2018 which allowed National Federations to have boats at a reduced cost while supporting local businesses.
Last year saw Ayomide Powei Bello and Beauty Akinaere Otuedo, two athletes who are part of the ICF Talent Identification Programme, represented Nigeria in the women’s C2 500m at the Olympic Games in Paris.
Ola Oluode, Secretary General of the Nigerian Rowing, Canoe and Sailing Federation, said participation at the Niger Delta Sports Festival helped to put a spotlight on canoeing.
“It was fantastic to have representation from all the states in canoeing at the first-ever Niger Delta Sports Festival,” said Oluode, who is also the Vice President of the Confederation of African Canoeing and an ICF Board member.
“Sitting down in the canoe is the local way of paddling so we are converting the young ones to professional kneeling canoeing.
“Despite the fact that many of them were paddling in domestic boats, almost all of them managed to balance in the boats after just a few hours of paddling.
“When you have got two people in the boat, it can be a challenge to balance and get the rhythm but they did really well.
“Participating in such a wonderful regional event is a great way of developing canoeing as we look to take the sport to another level in Nigeria.”
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