Idongesit Ashameri, Uyo
Akwa Ibom State Government is set to establish a state-of-the-art Sports Academy in Eket as part of a new strategy to turn talents emerging from its grassroots sports programmes into elite athletes capable of competing at national and international levels.
Governor Umo Eno announced the plan on Tuesday in Uyo while declaring open the second edition of the Akwa Ibom State Sports Festival, saying the proposed academy would provide a permanent training and development platform for athletes identified through the state’s sporting programmes.
The Governor, who spoke through his Deputy, Senator Akon Eyakenyi, also directed the revival of inter-house sports competitions in schools and colleges, signalling a renewed emphasis on using the education system as a feeder system for discovering young sporting talents.
Eno said the decision to make the state sports festival an annual event was driven by the results recorded from its maiden edition, with some athletes discovered through the competition subsequently representing Akwa Ibom at the NDDC Games in Benin, Edo State.
According to him, the athletes returned with 16 gold, 17 silver and 22 bronze medals, demonstrating the potential of a structured grassroots sports development programme to produce athletes capable of competing beyond the state.
The Governor cited the emergence of weightlifters Edidiong Umoafia and Ruth Ayodele as African champions and their qualification to represent Nigeria at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, alongside judoka Enku Ekuta, who secured Nigeria’s first international judo medal in more than 24 years.
He also mentioned Jacinta Lawrence of Community Comprehensive Secondary School, Ikot Ekpene, who emerged Nigeria’s junior champion in the 400 metres, as another product of the talent-discovery pathway.
Beyond facilities and competitions, the government said it would strengthen the incentive structure for athletes, with Eno approving financial rewards for Akwa Ibom athletes who represented the state at the NDDC Games.
The Governor said rewarding athletes was necessary to encourage improved performances, while urging participants at the ongoing festival to remain committed to their careers even when they fail to win at a particular competition.
The move has also received the backing of the 31 local government councils, with the Chairman of the Akwa Ibom State chapter of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria, ALGON, Dr Uwemedimo Udo, pledging continued support for grassroots sports development and incentives for outstanding athletes.
Commissioner for Sports Development and Chairman of the Ministerial Organising Committee, Elder Paul Bassey, said the creation of a standalone Ministry of Sports Development had strengthened the government’s ability to coordinate sports development, athlete welfare and competitions in the state.
Bassey disclosed that the administration’s reward system had already produced tangible results, revealing that three outstanding athletes had been offered automatic employment into the state civil service because of their sporting achievements.
The second Akwa Ibom State Sports Festival, which brings together athletes from the state’s 31 local government areas, will run for one week, with participants competing in various sporting events as the government seeks to establish a sustained pathway from grassroots discovery to elite sports.
