A’IBOM GOVT. PLEDGES SUPPORT TO IBOM ANGELS, RECEIVES SPORTS INVESTORS
The government of Akwa Ibom state has pledged its support to Ibom Angels Football Club, the state-owned women’s football outfit, ahead of the upcoming 2025/2026 Nigeria Women’s Football League – NWFL.
The state Commissioner for Sports, Elder Paul Bassey, made the pledge today, Monday, when he played host, in his office, to officials of a global and UK-based sports investment firm, African Sports Investor Limited – ASI, who were in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom state capital, on a facility-inspection tour.
Mr Bassey noted that sports was a cardinal objective of the ARISE agenda and described the visit as timely and in tune with Governor Umo Eno’s blueprint for the development of sports in the state.
“His Excellency, the Governor of Akwa Ibom State places a lot of premium on sports development and Ibom Angels Football Club, composed of our young and enterprising women, is a special project after his heart.” Mr Bassey said.
“The present administration has brought untold peace, security and sports infrastructural renaissance, which makes the state quite the destination of choice for investment.” The sports boss added.
In her remarks, the Founder and CEO of ASI, Mrs Abiola Ijasanmi, who is also a former Chief Operating Officer of the Confederation of African Football – CAF, said they were in the state as part of an ongoing inspection tour of all top flight female football clubs in the country, with view to improving the standard of the women’s game, enhancing players welfare and laying the foundation for the elevation of the standard of the game.
“This is the tenth state in the country we’ve visited, and having been driven around, I can tell how very peaceful, secure and investment-friendly Uyo, the state capital, in particular, and the state in general, really is.” “We are satisfied with the facilities and personnel we’ve seen, and we do look forward to working with you in the upcoming season.” Ijasanmi said.
Speaking earlier at Uyo Township Stadium while receiving the ASI delegation, the chairman of Ibom Angels Football Club, Prince Ukeme Ukpong, expressed optimism that the partnership with ASI would be spring in the step as the team sets out to accomplish its targets for the new season which include qualification for continental football.
Prince Ukpong listed the availability of a vast chunk of young and marketable players in its main team, a vibrant u-15s set-up, standard camp and dedicated stadium facilities as comparative advantage of Ibom Angels.
The ASI delegation which also had its Director of Operations, Mrs Andrea Grainger, in attendance, in addition to delivering a pep talk to players and officials, and also standing by to watch Ibom Angels’ Monday training session, toured Godswill Akpabio Stadium, Uyo Township Stadium, the club’s camp, among others.
With the Prince Ukeme Ukpong-led management committee now in place, Ibom Angels will be looking forward to greater exploits than those of last season when the 2025/2026 NWFL gets under way later this year.
©️ Ibom Angels FC Media Department