The Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Pastor Umo Eno, will honour athletes who won medals for the state at the 9th National Youth Games[1] during the closing ceremony of the 2025 Akwa Ibom State Sports Festival.
This was disclosed by the Honourable Commissioner for Sports, Elder Paul Bassey, on Thursday, September 11, 2025. While speaking to reporters, Elder Bassey said the Governor was delighted with the performance of the state’s contingent at the National Youth Games and would recognise their efforts.
The Commissioner said, “On Saturday, His Excellency, Governor Umo Eno, will honour all the Akwa Ibom State medallists at the 9th National Youth Games. We placed seventh out of 36 states and the FCT and the Governor is very happy about it.”
He explained that the state has plans to track the athletes, nurture and groom them, with proposals for scholarships to help some of them combine education with sports effectively.
When asked about the future of sports in the state, considering that Akwa Ibom finished seventh at the National Youth Games without having its own sports festival, Elder Bassey gave an emphatic reply. “This is just the beginning. Watch out for Akwa Ibom,” he said.
The Commissioner described the sports festival and other initiatives such as the Akwa Ibom Sports Academy as the vision of Governor Umo Eno. He expressed gratitude for the opportunity to be chosen to interpret the Governor’s plans for sports in the state. “I want to thank the Governor profusely for choosing me to interpret his dream for sports development in Akwa Ibom State. We are grateful that His Excellency has provided funds for us to host these Games and also funds to purchase sports equipment. We are very glad to be part of this,” Elder Bassey stated.
He also commended the Chairmen of the 31 local government areas in the state, describing them as “wonderful” for heeding the Governor’s call and funding their respective areas to participate in the Games.
With the festival set to close on Saturday, 13 September, expectations are high for more records, more medals, and unforgettable sporting moments. The event, a flagship project of Governor Umo Eno, is designed to discover new talents, showcase grassroots sports, and promote tourism in Akwa Ibom State.
References
- ^ 9th National Youth Games (sportsration.com)