The Akwa Ibom State Government on Thursday officially unveiled preparations for the 2025 Akwa Ibom State Sports Festival, a week-long sporting fiesta aimed at harnessing talents, boosting sports tourism, and driving youth development in line with the ARISE Agenda of the state Governor, Umo Eno.
Speaking at a media briefing held inside the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, the Chairman, Inter-Ministerial Main Organising Committee, Elder Paul Bassey, revealed that the maiden edition under the present administration will run from September 8 to 13, 2025, across designated venues in the state.
The chairman
described as a practical expression of Governor Umo Eno’s blueprint on sports, will feature 18 sporting events, including athletics, swimming, weightlifting, wrestling, taekwondo, boxing, chess, scrabble, table tennis, judo, karate, squash, and Paralympic events.
Others include: team sports such as football, basketball, volleyball, handball, and beach volleyball will be contested at federal constituency level.
A symbolic Unity Torch Relay will be flagged off by the Governor on Friday, August 29, from Government House, Uyo. The torch will tour all 31 local government areas before its final reception by the Governor on September 8 at the opening ceremony.
Addressing journalists, the Committee stressed that the festival is not only about competition but also about positioning Akwa Ibom to tap into the fast-growing global sports tourism industry, currently valued at over $565 billion and projected to hit $1 trillion by 2031.
“This initiative is deeply rooted in the ARISE Agenda, which identifies sports development and sports tourism as key pillars for youth empowerment and economic growth,” the committee stated.
Already, preparations are in top gear, with 3,600 athletes expected to participate. Local government chairmen have been tasked with grooming and presenting contingents, while facilities such as the Uyo Olympic-size swimming pool, the Ikot Ekpene and Eket sports complexes, and the new Arise Park sports facilities have been earmarked for use.
The government also confirmed that, for the first time in 14 years, it has approved the procurement of new sports equipment to aid the competition.
Akwa Ibom, which already plays host to the Super Eagles and boasts one of Africa’s finest stadiums, hopes to use the festival to strengthen its reputation as Nigeria’s hub for sports excellence and tourism.
The briefing climaxed with the unveiling of the official logo of the 2025 Akwa Ibom State Sports Festival, described by the Sports Commissioner as “the Akwa Ibom Olympic Games.”
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