…. Receives Sports Festival Unity Torch
By Bassey Nkponam
EKET
In his avowed commitment to provide a pathway for discovery of talents and growth, the Akwa Ibom governor has approved the establishment of Ibom Sports Academy in Eket Local Government Area of the State.
Pastor Umo Eno, who announced this in his office, weekend, at Government House, Uyo, while receiving the Unity Torch ahead of the Ibom Sports Festival slated for September 8, 2025 to September 13, 2025, said through the ongoing sports festival, the State was confident to have the first intake that will be admitted into the new Sports Academy.
Eno said through sports, the State was determined to raise next generation of super stars like William Troost-Ekong, Lionel Messi, Coco Gauff, and their likes, for the betterment of the State and the country at large.
He reiterated his administration’s determination to continuously invest in discovering sports talents and developing the youth, as sports development ties directly into aspiration two of the ARISE Agenda, reflecting his administration’s passion for youth empowerment, talents discovery, and healthy living.
“To provide a pathway for discovery and growth, government has approved the establishment of the Ibom Sports Academy in Eket,” he declared.
“Sports development ties directly into Aspiration Two of the ARISE Agenda, reflecting our administration’s passion for youth empowerment, talents discovery, and healthy living.
“For the first time in 14 years, we have approved the purchase of modern sports equipment to give our athletes world-class tools to train, compete, and excel. Sports will now be a way of life for our talented youth.”
Eno noted that the theme of this year’s festival, “Nurturing talents, promoting tourism,” reinforces government’s vision by positioning sports, not only as a tool for youth development, but also as a driver for economic and tourism growth adding that Akwa Ibom which boasts of facilities like the ARISE Resort and a world-class stadium, has steadily evolved into a premium destination for sports tourism in Nigeria and indeed, West Africa.
He observed that the festival logo beautifully captures the spirit of unity, strength and youthful energy, even as the figures in motion represents agility and teamwork and the colours reflecting vitality and cultural pride, while the map of Akwa Ibom at the centre symbolises identity and ownership rooted in the people’s heritage.
Receiving the symbolic torch, Eno described sports as a multi-billion dollar global industry, and the sports festival as a major avenue for raising sports talents and enhancing the quality of the development of youths in the State, praying that the unity torch so received, will symbolize the State’s collective strength and unity, and drive the “can do spirit” of Akwa Ibom youths, sport men and women to greater height across the 31 local government areas, party lines, gender lines, and ethnic lines.
“As we received the torch today, let it symbolise our collective strength and unity. Let it drive the “can do spirit” of our youths, sport men and women to greater height across the 31 local government areas, party lines, gender lines, and ethnic lines. Sports is a barrier breaker and I expect no less as we commence this sports festival this year”.
The governor lauded the commissioner for sports, Elder Paul Bassey, and his team, for the organisation of the event, saying his appointment as commissioner, especially as an indigene of Eket, would help facilitate the establishment of the sports academy, urging the contingents to work hard to win, as they would be specially received at the end of the state-wide event by the government.
Interacting with Government House correspondents, the commissioner for sports, Bassey, stated that the sports festival was the first-of-its-kind to be organised in the state in 18 years, as it incorporates both the young and older athletes, unlike the previous ones that were only arranged as youth sports festivals.
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