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NYG 2025: Team Edo Shines in Asaba as Okpebholo’s Sports Vision Delivers
The 9th National Youth Games (NYG) in Asaba, Delta State, has ended on a high note for Team Edo, which secured an impressive third-place finish with 79 medals—33 gold, 18 silver, and 28 bronze.
The feat, achieved despite a tense atmosphere and allegations of age cheating by some states, reflects Edo’s long-standing investment in grassroots sports, talent discovery, and structured mentorship. Out of 32 medal-yielding sports, Edo won in 26, confirming its rising reputation as a powerhouse in Nigerian sports.
Weightlifting stood out as Edo’s strongest event, with women athletes sweeping all nine gold medals available. Favour Cornelius (44kg), Esther Amarachi Chijoke (48kg), and Beauty Akpore (53kg) each claimed three golds, powering the Heartbeat State’s surge. Gymnastics was another stronghold, producing six gold, three silver, and one bronze, led by Wisdom Ikede, who clinched three gold, and Aliu Solomon, who added one gold and one silver.
Aquatics also proved fertile, yielding 10 medals, including three gold. Tissa Precious shone with two gold in freestyle events, while Ayemi Lucky struck gold in the 50m breaststroke. Athletics contributed nine medals, highlighted by Sunday Davwi’s gold in the men’s 1500m, Tejiri Ugoh’s stunning 11.72s win in the women’s 100m sprint, and Treasure Omosivwe’s gold in the women’s high jump.
Other gold medal triumphs came in Boxing, where Abdulmalik Lawal and Abdullahi Lanre Adebayo won in the 42kg and 44kg categories respectively, while Jessica Ughele excelled in deaf athletics, taking gold in the women’s 400m. In Judo, Miracle Hope (45kg male) and Chioma Atonwa (36kg female) both dominated their categories to secure gold. Karate also delivered glory, with Desmond Izevbuwa Eroirewaen striking gold in the men’s 50kg kumite.
Team Edo’s collective strength extended to group sports. In Cricket, the male T20 team demonstrated skill and teamwork to seize gold, while in Beach Volleyball, the duo of Gift Iwobi and Odoni Esther overcame Team Oyo in the final to clinch victory. Taekwondo and Rugby also added two gold medals each, underscoring Edo’s depth across disciplines.
Speaking on the achievement, Hon. Amadin Desmond Enabulele, Executive Chairman of the Edo State Sports Commission, attributed the success to Governor Monday Okpebholo’s sports vision. According to him, “The Governor’s philosophy of identifying, nurturing, and exposing young talents is bearing fruit, as evidenced by Edo fielding the youngest athletes at the Games.”
Governor Okpebholo and his deputy, Rt. Hon. Dennis Idahosa, have made sports a top priority, seeing it as a vital tool for youth empowerment, talent development, and social cohesion. Their administration has sustained Edo’s sporting legacy while charting a more dynamic and inclusive path through bold policies and strategic investments.
Though the Games were not without controversy—especially age-cheating allegations—the organizers earned praise for providing transparent medal table updates, which enhanced credibility and accountability.
At the close of the Games, Team Lagos topped the medal table with 52 gold, 32 silver, and 26 bronze, while hosts Delta placed second with 37 gold, 38 silver, and 39 bronze. Edo’s 33 gold medals may have been four short of Delta’s tally, but its performance is being celebrated as a triumph powered by discipline, determination, and the indomitable Edo spirit.
Team Edo’s outstanding results, achieved across diverse events, stand as a testament to the resilience of its young athletes, the dedication of their coaches, and the unflinching support of Governor Okpebholo and Deputy Governor Idahosa—an inspiring signal that Edo’s sports future is even brighter.
Edoko Wilson Edoko is the Media Officer to the Executive Chairman, Edo State Sports Commission