Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to sports and tourism development, while rewarding medalists with millions of naira as he declared the 2025 Akwa Ibom State Sports Festival a resounding success.
Speaking at the closing ceremony of the week-long event held at the Uyo Sports Stadium, Governor Eno commended the Inter-Ministerial Organising Committee led by Commissioner for Sports, Paul “Sports” Bassey, for successfully staging the first edition of the festival in 15 years.
Over 3,600 athletes from the 31 local government areas competed in 18 individual and five team sports, showcasing what the Governor described as “an infectious spirit of unity, brotherhood, sportsmanship, and peace.”
Highlighting the economic potential of sports, Governor Eno said:
“Sports is a multi-billion-dollar global industry – the reason why it features prominently as a cardinal point of our sports tourism drive under the ARISE Agenda. The theme of this Festival – Nurturing Talents, Promoting Tourism – captures our strategic vision to grow beyond oil and position Akwa Ibom as a hub for sports and tourism.”
The Governor announced cash rewards for all medalists from the 31 local government areas, with ₦500,000 for gold, ₦250,000 for silver, and ₦150,000 for bronze winners. He further revealed that athletes who excelled at the recent National Youth Games in Asaba, where Akwa Ibom placed 7th with 11 gold, 9 silver, and 10 bronze medals, will also benefit from the package and receive further training at the State’s Sports Academy in Eket.
Local governments were equally recognised for their performance, with ₦15 million awarded to the overall winner, ₦10 million to second place, ₦5 million to third place, while all other LGAs received ₦2 million each.
Governor Eno directed the Sports Ministry and the Inter-Ministerial Organising Committee, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, to begin preparations for next year’s edition and revive inter-house sports and football competitions across secondary schools. He recalled that legends such as Etim Esin, James Etokebe, and the late Uwem Ekarika rose from such grassroots contests.
“After one week of intense but healthy competition, this sports festival has produced winners at every level. Today, we have proven that Akwa Ibom is ready for a sports renaissance. Congratulations to us all,” the Governor said.