AKWA IBOM SPORTS FESTIVAL PUTS GRASSROOTS TALENT ON DISPLAY

With so much synergy and excitement, sport enthusiast and athletes; coaches; officials; administrators; organizers have witnessed another successful sporting activities with athletes from the 31 Local Government Areas of Akwa Ibom State converged in the State capital (UYO) for the second edition of the Akwa Ibom State Sports Festival.

The annual sport fiesta which began on September 22nd climaxed today with a mouth-watering closing ceremony having featured 27 sporting disciplines and more than 4,000 athletes competing across venues in Uyo. It builds on last year's maiden edition, giving young people from across the state a platform to compete beyond their local government areas, showcase their abilities and gain exposure.

According to Deputy Governor Senator Akon Eyakenyi, the success of the maiden edition showed the potential of grassroots sports development in the state. He noted that athletes discovered during the 2025 festival later went on to compete at the NDDC Games, where Akwa Ibom recorded 16 gold, 17 silver and 22 bronze medals.

His Excellency, Governor's vision is to move sports beyond recreation and position it as a career and a business opportunity for young people, while creating a pathway for athletes to develop and compete at higher levels.

The 2026 edition has also expanded the range of sporting activities, with golf making its debut at the festival. The inaugural golf competition brought together teams representing the 31 Local Government Areas alongside Team Nigeria.

One of the athletes who competed in Judo said he was pleased to have the opportunity to participate in the festival, describing it as a platform to showcase his ability. He also expressed appreciation to Governor Umo Eno for providing the opportunity for young athletes to compete and develop their talents.

For many of the athletes, the festival is more than a competition. It is an opportunity to test their abilities, gain experience and take the next step in their sporting careers.