Governor Pastor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State has directed the Ministries of Education and Sports to join forces with the Ministerial Organising Committee of the recently concluded State Sports Festival to rejuvenate sporting programs within primary and secondary schools across the state.
He underscored the critical need to bring back inter-house and inter-school sports competitions that have long been dormant.
Addressing attendees at the closing and medal award ceremony of the State Sports Festival held over the weekend, the governor stressed the importance of early talent identification to nurture athletes capable of excelling on national and global stages.
Highlighting the economic significance of sports, he referred to it as a multi-billion-dollar global enterprise, which aligns with the sports tourism objectives embedded in his administration’s ARISE Agenda.
“I am calling on the Ministerial Organising Committee to collaborate closely with the State Ministry of Education to reinstate inter-house sports activities in all our schools. This is the foundation for discovering and developing young talent,” he said.
“Historically, we engaged in inter-secondary school sports competitions, visiting various schools to compete. I am eager to see these inter-school sports festivals revived. Many of our internationally recognized athletes were first spotted during these events. We will ensure adequate funding is provided because promoting sports and tourism is essential. This initiative will become a staple in our annual calendar.”
“Our goal is to harness the vast potential of the sports industry and uncover fresh talents who will proudly represent Akwa Ibom at major sporting events. The festival’s theme, ‘Nurturing Talents, Promoting Tourism,’ perfectly encapsulates our strategic focus. Tourism remains a cornerstone of our administration as we diversify the state’s economy beyond oil.”
“We look forward to the December launch of our ARISE Resorts, which will boast world-class facilities such as a 9-hole golf course and both indoor and outdoor sports arenas,” Governor Eno added.
He noted that the last State Sports Festival took place 15 years ago, describing the 2025 edition as a significant revival of the state’s sporting culture.
“This past week, we united 3,600 young athletes from all 31 local government areas. Their spirited display of camaraderie, sportsmanship, and peaceful competition across 18 individual and five team sports has been nothing short of remarkable,” he remarked.
Governor Eno extended his congratulations to all participants, affirming, “Every athlete, every local government chairman who supported their teams, and indeed the entire state, are winners.”
He also praised Akwa Ibom athletes who recently competed at the National Youth Games in Asaba, Delta State, applauding their impressive haul of 11 gold, 9 silver, and 10 bronze medals, which secured the state a 7th place finish among 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
“We are awarding each gold medalist N500,000, silver medalists N250,000, and bronze medalists N150,000. Additionally, we will enhance their skills through further training at the Sports Academy in Eket. This facility represents a strategic investment, equipped with modern sports technology to prepare our youths for competitive excellence,” he explained.
Medalists from the State Sports Festival, which saw 156 gold, 156 silver, and 198 bronze medals awarded across 18 sports disciplines, will receive similar rewards: N500,000 for gold, N250,000 for silver, and N150,000 for bronze.
