The Sporting Laurels of Governor Umo Eno
Amos Etuk
The investments and renaissance in sports development in Akwa Ibom State in the last three years under the administration of Governor Umo Eno, Ph.D has been amazing and transformative.
The sports sector development has been very intentional, strategic with the bold blueprints of the ARISE Agenda reaping new gains for the State and huge podium finish for our athletes.
The task to ensure that grassroot sports revival takes a centrestage in driving this success story has been massively interpreted so far by the Commioner for Sports in Akwa Ibom State, Elder Paul Bassey whose global experience in this sector is genuinely ushering dividends and giving Akwa Ibom State the deserved attention by our athletes in national and international competitions.
The administration of Governor Umo Eno set out the urgent reforms in grassroot sports development with a focus on the growth of all sports. The legacy project in Sports development under this administration, the Ibom Sports Academy at Eket has taken off with the fencing and gate house nearing completion and the official ground breaking by Governor Umo Eno in the next few months.
The introduction of the Akwa Ibom State Sports Festival has unveiled new national champions from the State and given the exposure for our athletes to feature at International Competitions.
The purchase of sports equipment by the Ministry of Sports for all Sporting Associations, new boxing ring, capacity building workshop for Staff and Coaches, regular interface with various Sporting Association Chairmen and Secretaries, enhanced welfare for athletes and motivation has successfully reengineered the multiple laurels recently coming upon athletes in Akwa Ibom State.
The fourth place finish at the second edition of the Niger Delta Games from the sixth position at the maiden edition last year is a clear testimony of the new milestones and achievements of sports development in Akwa Ibom State with Governor Umo Eno.
That foundation is now reaping a harvest of medals and giving Akwa Ibom State athletes the bigger stage on the continent and even the Commonwealth Games coming up.
The roll call of sporting laurels include the feat by Enku Ekuta and Immaculata Ufot in the Judo trials for the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland later this year and Uyama Udobong in Taekwondo whose national trial feat in the 87kg category earned him an international slot in the sport.
Ruth Nyong won three Gold medals at the African Weightlifting Championship,45Kg category in Ismaila, Egypt while Edidiong Umuofia won One Gold medal and two silver medals in the 71Kg category.
At the African Athletics Championship in Ghana from May 10-17,2026, Akwa Ibom State athletes represented Nigeria and gave outstanding performances.
Three athletes from the State were part of the quartet that won Gold medals in the 400m relay. The national record holder in 800m, Comfort James an Akwa Ibom athlete also featured at the African Athletics Championship.
Esther Okon, Jacinta Lawrence won Gold in the Women’s 4×400m relay final while Ezekiel Eno Asuquo and Victor Ime won Gold medals in the mixed 4×400m relay final. Clergy Edet featured in the Women’s High Jump. Jacinta Lawrence was honoured by the National Sports Commission as the Best Junior Athlete in Nigeria in 2025 with a cash award of N3M.
The Chapel of Grace Tennis Club representing Akwa Ibom State recently emerged Champions of a Table Tennis Championship in the South South held in Benin,Edo State defeating 21 other clubs within the region.
At the moment, the Ministry of Sports is building on a calendar that is engaging our State athletes to be in the best of forms, sponsoring them for more events, exposing athletes to more competitions, soliciting private sector partnership in driving all the Sports and giving equal attention to the growth of all the Associations.
The vision of the making of future champions from Akwa Ibom State is yielding massive finish line results, new podium heights and a proud identity of the manifestation of the Akwa Ibom spirit of victory.
With the next season for the Akwa Ibom State Sports Festival coming up in the next few months, it will be glory, glory, glory for Team Akwa Ibom at the next National Sports Festival, National Youth Games and the Niger Delta Games.
Kudos to the Ministry of Sports for the new life line in the turnaround of fortunes being experienced by our athletes and coaches.
The ARISE Agenda in sports development is making impacts with the laurels showcasing Governor Umo Eno’s huge commitments and investments for the next generation of Olympians.
Champions are made in Akwa Ibom State.
Winning is in our Soul.
Akwa Ibom is Rising in the Golden Era.
