Akwa Ibom State Government has announced plans to consider outstanding athletes for employment into the state public service, as the 2026 Akwa Ibom State Sports Festival formally got underway with the presentation of the Unity Torch in Uyo on Thursday.
Receiving the torch at Government House, Governor Umo Eno said the measure was part of efforts to reward athletes who have brought honour to the state, while encouraging more young people to pursue sporting careers. He also directed the Commissioner for Sports Development to ensure that athletes who won medals at major competitions are recognised during the festival’s opening ceremony.
Eno said the state’s growing sporting profile demonstrated the potential of sports not only to unite citizens but also to create economic opportunities for young people. He recalled that Akwa Ibom recorded 16 gold, 17 silver and 22 bronze medals at the recent Niger Delta Games in Benin, describing the performance as evidence of the strength of talent emerging from the grassroots.
The Governor also celebrated three Akwa Ibom athletes who represented Nigeria at the Commonwealth Games and returned with medals. They include Edidiong Umofia, who won gold in weightlifting; Ruth Nyong, who secured silver in weightlifting; and Enju Ekuta, who won bronze in judo. “Just recently, the state made history by providing three athletes in the country’s contingent to the Commonwealth Games, and all came back with medals,” he said.
Beyond competitions, Eno said the state was investing in structures capable of producing future champions, citing the proposed Sports Academy and the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium. He said the stadium, which has twice won the National Pitch Award, would host the Super Eagles on September 25 as part of activities marking Akwa Ibom’s 39th anniversary.
He added that Akwa Ibom was currently leading the 2026 Rainforest Basketball League after the first stanza and had also successfully hosted the South-South Chess Championship. The Governor said the Sports Academy would provide opportunities for young athletes to be discovered, developed and equipped with the technical skills required to compete nationally and internationally.
Earlier, Commissioner for Sports Development, Elder Paul Bassey, commended the Governor for supporting athletes and encouraging sporting excellence in the state. The Unity Torch, presented first to Bassey by medal-winning athletes, was subsequently handed to Governor Eno, who passed it to Uyo Local Government Council Chairman, Dr Uwemedimo Udo, for onward movement through the 31 local government areas ahead of the festival’s opening on September 21.
