Governor Umo Eno has declared open the weeklong Ibom 2025 Sports Festival, an event designed to discover and groom new athletic talent across Akwa Ibom State.
The governor, represented by his deputy, Senator Akon Eyakenyi, launched the festival yesterday with the ceremonial lighting of the torch at Uyo Township Stadium.
Competitors from all 31 local government areas are set to participate in 18 different sporting disciplines, a platform the administration believes will showcase Akwa Ibom’s potential on both national and global stages.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Governor Eno affirmed that the festival is part of his administration’s commitment to invest in sports development and create opportunities for young people. He described sports as a thriving multi-billion-dollar industry and stressed the importance of identifying, training, and connecting emerging athletes with global networks of agents and managers.
The governor pointed to the achievements of sports figures of Akwa Ibom and Nigerian descent, including Arsenal forward Bukayo Saka, Super Eagles captain William Troost-Ekong, heavyweight boxing prospect Moses Itauma, and NBA coach Ime Udoka, describing them as role models capable of inspiring the next generation.
“Many more stars are waiting to be discovered, and this festival is designed to find them,” he remarked.
Governor Eno further announced the establishment of a new sports academy and the procurement of world-class equipment to support athletes. He acknowledged that the absence of adequate facilities had long limited the state’s chances of excelling at major competitions.
“With the right tools now in place, we expect a different outcome,” he said.
He ended his remarks by calling on athletes to uphold fair play and build lasting friendships throughout the competition, which opened with a football fixture between Ikot Abasi and Uyo LGAs.