AKS Sports Festival Discovery Itoro Sunday Wins Akwa Ibom’s First Ever Swimming Medal at Niger Delta Games

AKS Sports Festival Discovery Itoro Sunday Wins Akwa Ibom’s First Ever Swimming Medal at Niger Delta Games

Itoro Benjamin Sunday made history on Monday, February 23, 2026, by winning a medal in the women’s 100m backstroke event of the ongoing 2nd Niger Delta Games at the swimming pool of the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City, Edo State. The achievement marked Team Akwa Ibom’s first ever swimming medal at the Niger Delta Games and highlighted the success of the Akwa Ibom State Sports Festival in discovering talented athletes.

Itoro was just a girl who loved swimming with her siblings in Ikot Udom Village in Akwa Ibom State until the Pastor Umo Eno-led Akwa Ibom State Government berthed the Akwa Ibom State Sports Festival.

One of the major objectives of the Festival was to unearth talents, and local governments were given the duty to comb their communities and bring forth talents to compete at the event.

That was how Itoro Benjamin Sunday found a way from swimming in her community stream to the Olympic-size swimming pool at the Uyo Township Stadium, representing her local government area, Ibiono Ibom.

The Akwa Ibom State Sports Festival began on Monday, September 8, 2025, at the Uyo Township Stadium with the theme “Nurturing Talent, Promoting Tourism.”

In her interview with the Team Akwa Ibom media unit after winning her historic medal, wearing a delightful smile, Itoro shared her story:

“We have a stream in my village, Ikot Udom, in Ibiono Ibom local government area, and that is where I used to swim with my siblings for fun.”

When asked about the moment she discovered she could make a career from her swimming skills, she said, “It was before the Akwa Ibom State Sports Festival when one of the Ibiono Ibom local government officials, Mr Uduakobong Asuquo, approached me to come and represent the local government at the games.”

That marked the beginning of her swimming journey. At the Akwa Ibom State Sports Festival, her first ever competition, she won the gold medal in the 50m event and was spotted by officials of the Sports Ministry. That development process continued until her selection to represent Team Akwa Ibom at the 2nd Niger Delta Games in Edo State.

She had special words for the Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, Sports Commissioner Elder Paul Bassey, and her coach Mike Essien: “I want to thank our Governor Pastor Umo Eno for the vision behind the Akwa Ibom State Sports Festival. Who knows I would still be swimming in my village if that event did not take place. I also want to thank the Commissioner for Sports Elder Paul Bassey and officials of the Ministry for the opportunity to be here representing my state. To my coaches, especially Coach Mike Essien, I am very grateful for their support and encouragement which has helped me get to this point where I am winning a medal for my State.”

On how she feels after winning a medal in her first event outside the State, she said, “I feel so happy. When I came here and saw the settings, I did not expect to win a medal, but I did my best not minding the circumstances, and I am happy to get the state’s first swimming medal of the Niger Delta Games.”

Looking ahead, Itoro Benjamin Sunday said many talents like her abound in the State, and so the government should do two things: “I want the Akwa Ibom State Sports Festival to continue because there are other talents like me who will be discovered and will make the State proud. Also, I will hope that our swimming athletes will get opportunity to make constant use of the pool at the Uyo Townships Stadium so we can get better.” She concluded.

The 2nd Niger Delta Games is ongoing in Benin City, Edo State, with Team Akwa Ibom already bagging 29 medals as of February 23, 2026. The competition is set to continue until February 26, 2026.