Akwa Ibom Unveil Plans for Sports Festival 2025

Akwa Ibom Unveil Plans for Sports Festival 2025

….Set to Power Youth & Tourism Development in the State

🎈 The Akwa Ibom State Government has unveiled plans for the hosting of the much-anticipated Sports Festival 2025, a multi-sport event designed to discover new talents, promote youth development, boost the sports industry, and strengthen sports tourism. This initiative is firmly anchored on Governor Umo Eno’s ARISE Agenda, which prioritises sports as a tool for human capital development and economic growth.

🎈 At a media briefing in the Conference Hall of the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, the inter ministerial Committee headed by the Commissioner for Sports, Elder Paul Bassey outlined modalities for the successful staging of the Festival expected to hold from September 8-13 2025 with the theme: Nurturing talents, promoting tourism.

🎈The collaborative presence of key ministries underscored the holistic and inter-sectoral approach of the Eno-led administration to sports and youth empowerment.

🎈 Setting the tone, Commissioner for Information, Rt. Hon. Aniekan Umanah, emphasized the strategic role of the Festival in translating Aspirations 2 of Governor Umo Eno”s ARISE Agenda in the areas of Sports Tourism and Youth Development while calling on the media to give wide publicity to the landmark event. He described the Festival as a unifying platform that will not only raise champions but also spotlight Akwa Ibom as a destination for sports tourism.

🎈 On his part, the Honourable Commissioner for Sports, Elder Paul Bassey, disclosed that the Festival will feature both junior and senior athletes from all 31 Local Government Areas, competing in 18 core sports, including Athletics, Badminton, Boxing, Chess, Judo, Karate, Scrabble, Swimming, Wrestling, Weightlifting, and Football. In addition, Golf, Cricket, Kokowa, and Ayo will be featured as demonstration sports, while team events will be decided at the senatorial district level.

🎈 Elder Bassey further revealed that the Sports Festival complements other ongoing initiatives of Governor Umo Eno such as the soon-to-be-launched Sports Academy, the 9-hole Golf Course, and modern sporting facilities at the ARISE Resort, all geared towards nurturing young talents and positioning Akwa Ibom as a hub for sports excellence.

🎈 The event also witnessed a colourful unveiling of the logo for the Festival symbolizing the state’s cultural heritage.

🎈 The briefing was also attended by the Honourable Commissioners for Culture & Tourism, Dr.Anietie Udofia, Education,Prof.Ubong Umoh, Humanitarian Affairs, Princess Emem Ibanga, Women Affairs, Hon.Inibehe Silas, and Youth Development,Dr.Ekanem Ekerete, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Ekerete Udoh, as well as the Permanent Secretaries of the Ministries of Sports,Mrs Rosemary Ubia and Information,Akparawa James Edet, reflecting the administration’s integrated vision to link sports with tourism, education, and community development..

🎈 With the Akwa Ibom Sports Festival 2025, the State is not just celebrating athletics, it is investing in a future where sports drive youth empowerment, unity, and socio-economic growth.

@ MOI ,28/8/2025