Akwa Ibom Sports Festival Draws 4,000 Athletes — Governor Eno

Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State says more than 4,000 athletes are competing in the second edition of the Akwa Ibom Sports Festival, spanning 27 sporting disciplines.

Eno disclosed this while declaring the annual sports festival open on Tuesday in Uyo. Represented by Deputy Governor Sen. Akon Eyakenyi, the governor said sports play a significant role in his administration's ARISE agenda, particularly in the development and empowerment of youths.

Talent Discovery Yields National Success

Eno explained that the discovery of talent at the grassroots level, driven by the passion shown across the state's Local Government Areas, is aimed at exposing young people to sporting opportunities. He recalled that athletes discovered through the 2025 edition of the festival went on to represent the state at the NDDC Games in Delta, where they excelled.

"After the 2025 festival, we went on to expose our discovered athletes at the NDDC Games in Delta, where they shone like a million stars. We won 16 gold, 17 silver and 22 bronze medals. I have asked the Commissioner for Sports Development to arrange for us to receive them," the governor said.

He disclosed that he had approved additional financial incentives for the athletes, who would soon be presented with their cheques. "Since we hosted that festival, it has been success stories all over for our athletes. Especially, the juniors who have gone ahead to excel in their different sports," he said.

Eno also cited the achievements of the state's weightlifting team, which competed in Egypt and emerged African champions — a result that qualified them to represent Nigeria at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

The governor charged athletes representing the state's 31 local government areas to embody the spirit of sportsmanship and showcase their natural talents in pursuit of excellence.

Commissioner Highlights Reforms Ahead of 2026 Edition

Also speaking, Commissioner for Sports Development, Mr Paul Bassey, thanked Eno for sustaining the sports festival, describing it as an initiative that has yielded positive results over the years. Bassey said his ministry had addressed several challenges encountered during the previous edition and assured participants that the 2026 edition would be an improvement.

"We have regulated registration, which we made online, to make sure that there is no foul play. All these hard-copy registrations were not good for us. We also have some regulations. If you competed for one local government in 2025, you cannot move this year. You need at least three years to be able to move," Bassey said.

The commissioner advised athletes to avoid performance-enhancing drugs and compete strictly on the strength of their natural abilities in order to achieve genuine greatness in sports. He added that an athlete's final position at the festival mattered less than the potential they demonstrated — potential that could, with the right nurturing, translate into future greatness.

Goodwill messages were also delivered by the Chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) and other stakeholders across Akwa Ibom State.