Gov Diri Honoured in London for Outstanding Contribution to Grassroots Sports

Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa State has received international recognition for his administration’s contribution to sports development, after being honoured at the 2026 Nigerian Universal Keystone Sports Awards (NUKSA) in London.

Diri was presented with the Outstanding Contribution to Grassroots Sports Development Award during the NUKSA Awards Gala Night held on Thursday at the Ham Polo Club in Richmond, London.

The governor was represented at the event by Bayelsa State Commissioner for Sports, Daniel Igali, and his Chief Press Secretary, Daniel Alabrah.

Speaking through Igali after receiving the award, Diri described the recognition as an “enormous honour”, saying it represented a significant endorsement of his administration’s efforts to reposition sports in Bayelsa.

The governor said his administration had made substantial progress in sports over the past six years despite Bayelsa being one of Nigeria’s least populated states.

According to him, the state has increasingly established itself as one of the country’s leading sporting states and is currently preparing to host the 2028 National Sports Festival.

He also disclosed that construction of major sporting facilities was ongoing across the state as part of efforts to create infrastructure capable of sustaining sports development beyond his administration.

“On behalf of His Excellency, Senator Douye Diri, we thank the NUKSA organisers for this enormous honour,” Igali said while representing the governor.

“As you may know, Bayelsa is one of the smallest states in the country in terms of population. But in six years that Senator Diri has been governor, we have become one of the top three states in terms of sports in Nigeria.”

He added that the state’s long-term objective was to build facilities that would continue to serve athletes and young people well into the future.

“Our goal is to bequeath to future generations facilities that when we leave office, in another 10 to 20 years, sports will continue to thrive in Bayelsa,” Diri said.

The Director of the 2026 NUKSA Awards, David Doherty, commended the Bayelsa governor for accepting the honour and sending representatives to the ceremony.

Doherty said NUKSA considered it a privilege to recognise Diri, particularly for what he described as his efforts to change the perception of Bayelsa through sports and infrastructure development.

He described the governor as a passionate sports enthusiast and one of Nigeria’s notable leaders.

The NUKSA Awards brought together members of the Nigerian community in the United Kingdom, sports personalities and other distinguished guests to celebrate sporting excellence and contributions to sports development.

Doherty said the awards were designed not only to celebrate medals and trophies but also to recognise determination, discipline, community impact and the talents of Nigerians in the UK and beyond.

Other personalities honoured at the event included Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, his wife, Prof. Olufolake AbdulRazaq, Minister of Interior Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, the wife of former President Goodluck Jonathan, Dr. Patience Jonathan, and Delta State Sports Commission Chairman, Onoriode Oborevwori.

Chelsea’s emerging young talent, Chizzy Ezenwata, was also among the recipients, receiving the Emerging Talent Award.

The recognition adds to Bayelsa’s growing profile in Nigerian sports, with the state positioning itself to play a prominent role when it hosts the National Sports Festival in 2028.