Elizabeth Vincent, Yenegoa
Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has been honoured in the United Kingdom for his contributions to the development of grassroots sports in Nigeria.
Diri was among distinguished Nigerians recognised at the 2026 Nigerian Universal Keystone Sports Awards (NUKSA), held on Thursday night at the Ham Polo Club in Richmond, London.
The governor, who was unable to attend the ceremony personally, was represented at the gala by the Bayelsa State Commissioner for Sports, Hon. Daniel Igali, and his chief press secretary, Mr. Daniel Alabrah.
Diri received the Outstanding Contribution to Grassroots Sports Development Award, a recognition he described as an “enormous honour” and a significant endorsement of his administration’s efforts to reposition sports in Bayelsa.
Speaking through Igali after receiving the award, the governor said the recognition was particularly significant because it came from outside Nigeria and underscored the growing international visibility of Bayelsa’s achievements in sports.
He noted that despite being one of the least populated states in the country, Bayelsa had over the past six years emerged as one of Nigeria’s leading sporting states.
According to him, the state has consistently ranked among the top three performers in national sporting competitions and is currently preparing to host the national sports festival in 2028.
Diri also highlighted the ongoing construction of world-class sporting facilities across the state, saying the investments were aimed at creating sustainable infrastructure capable of supporting future generations of athletes.
He said, “let me express his excellency’s sincere apologies for not being able to attend in person the chief press secretary and I are here to represent him,on behalf of his excellency, senator Douye Diri, we thank the NUKSA organisers for this enormous honour.
“As you may know Bayelsa is one of the smallest states in the country in terms of population but in the six years that senator Diri has been governor we have become one of the top three states in terms of sports in Nigeria.
“We are hosting the national sports festival in two years and are currently building a couple of stadia at the same time,our goal is to bequeath to future generations facilities that, when we leave office in another 10 to 20 yearswill ensure that sports continue to thrive in Bayelsa.”
Earlier, director of the 2026 NUKSA awards, Mr. David Doherty, commended governor Diri for accepting the honour and for sending representatives to the ceremony.
Doherty described the governor as a passionate sports enthusiast and one of Nigeria’s outstanding leaders, saying his administration had helped change the narrative surrounding Bayelsa’s performance in sports and infrastructure development.
He said the awards were designed not only to celebrate sporting achievements but also to recognise individuals whose contributions had created opportunities and inspired young people.
“It is a great honour to welcome you to the Nigerian UK sports award Gala tonight, we are celebrating much more than medals, trophies and sporting achievements we are celebrating determination, discipline community and the remarkable talents within the Nigerian community here in the UK and beyond,Doherty said.
He added that sports remained a powerful tool for bringing people together and promoting unity, while thanking the sponsors, partners, volunteers and others who contributed to the success of the event.
Other distinguished award recipients included Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq; his wife, prof. Olufolake AbdulRazaq; Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo; wife of former Nigerian President, Dr. Patience Jonathan; Chairman of the Delta State Sports Commission, Mr. Onoriode Oborevwori; and Chelsea’s emerging young talent, Chizzy Ezenwata, who received the emerging talent award.
The recognition further underscores the growing profile of Bayelsa as a major force in Nigerian sports and comes ahead of the state’s hosting of the 2028 national sports festival.
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