Delta sports chief Oborevwori to receive international honour in Paris

The Chairman of the Delta State Sports Commission, Onoriode Joshua Oborevwori, is set to receive international recognition in Paris for his contribution to sports administration and grassroots development in Nigeria. He will be honoured with the Best Sports Commissioner Award at the Nigeria-France Sports Awards, scheduled to take place on 20 October 2025, at the historic Maison des Arts in Le Plessis-Robinson, France. The award, now in its third edition, celebrates individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the advancement of sports and youth development in Nigeria and across the African diaspora.

Oborevwori’s selection, according to the organisers, follows a year of transformative leadership at the Delta State Sports Commission. Since assuming office in November 2024, he has been credited with repositioning Delta as a national model for youth engagement and grassroots sports development. Under his tenure, Delta State achieved an impressive performance at the 22nd National Sports Festival—the Gateway Games—where its athletes topped the medals table with 109 gold, 75 silver, and 87 bronze. The feat further reinforced the state’s long-standing reputation as Nigeria’s sporting powerhouse.

Oborevwori’s administration has also focused on institutional reforms, particularly in school sports, gender inclusion, and youth empowerment through structured talent discovery programmes. His efforts have extended beyond policy to personal involvement, including his continued support for local clubs such as Delta Babes Football Club, which he sponsors privately. Warri Wolves FC, the state’s flagship football team, also secured promotion to the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) during his tenure after four years in the lower division—a development seen as symbolic of the state’s broader sporting revival.

The Nigeria-France Sports Awards is organised by OJB Media Network, led by France-based Nigerian journalist Babatunde Ojora, a contributor to the BBC and Goal.com. The event will feature a mix of sporting figures, administrators, and journalists from across Africa, Europe, and the United States. Other awardees at this year’s ceremony include Maria Tavares, IB Dende, Adeboye Anthony, Taiwo Awoniyi, Ibukun Simon, and Rasheeda Ajibade. The event will also host top sports journalists such as Biola Kazeem, Shina Okeleji, and Sulaimon Folarin, alongside Nigeria’s Senior Special Assistant to the President on Grassroots Sports Development, Adeboye Adeyinka (popularly known as Zulu).

Speaking ahead of the event, organisers described Oborevwori’s recognition as a reflection of his “commitment to inclusive sports development and his efforts to build sustainable systems that empower young athletes.” For the Delta Sports Commission Chairman, the award represents not just a personal milestone but also a nod to the state’s growing influence in national and international sports.

Source: https://guardian.ng/news/delta-sports-chief-oborevwori-to-receive-international-honour-in-paris/

Date: 10Oct25