Gov Eno’s Speech at Opening of Akwa Ibom Sports Festival

BEING THE SPEECH BY HIS EXCELLENCY, PASTOR UMO ENO, PhD, GOVERNOR, AKWA IBOM STATE, AT THE OPENING OF AKWA IBOM SPORTS FESTIVAL, UYO TOWNSHIP STADIUM, SEPTEMBER 8TH, 2025.

PROTOCOL
1. We are gathered here this afternoon for the opening ceremony of the Akwa Ibom Sports Festival in fulfilment of a campaign promise I made that if elected, we will deploy resources to the promotion of sports and get our youths ready to compete and conquer the world in various sporting activities.

2. As I said when the Games Torch was handed over to me a little over a week ago, sports today is a multi-billion global industry and we must discover new talents, grow and expose them to the agents and managers at different levels and see them blossom and grow like others are currently doing across the sporting world.

Her Excellency, Sen. Akon Eyakenyi taking the kick-off

3. Today, Bukayo Saka of Arsenal Football Club, whose parents came from the South-West part of Nigeria, Troost Ekong, whose parents have roots in our dear State, Etinan to be specific, WBO Heavyweight Boxing Champion, Moses Itauma, whom I had the pleasure of meeting and celebrating a few days ago in London, Ime Udoka, who became the Head Coach of one of the most storied basketball franchises in the United States, the Boston Celtics, have roots in our State, have defined excellence and success in their respective sporting areas.

4. There are many of these great sports stars waiting to be discovered, and this Sports Festival is aimed at discovering those talents who would eventually fly the flag of our dear State and bring us laurels.

5. For the first time in the history of our State, we have created the first stand-alone Ministry of Sports headed by an internationally recognized sporting personality and renowned journalist, Paul ‘Sports’ Bassey. With his knowledge and strategic insights, we are sure he will implement my vision for sports development in our State, and so far, he seems to be on the right path.

6. We have approved the establishment of a Sports Academy in Eket and have gone ahead with the purchase of world-class sporting equipment which would help our youths to train, compete and excel at international events. We have also developed sporting facilities including a 9 hole golf course, outdoor and indoor games at our audacious tourism location, the ARISE Resort in Uyo which is billed to open in December of this year.

7. The lack of modern equipment has always been one of the reasons for our inability to win laurels at major national and international sporting events. We hope with the provision of these tools, the story will now be different.

8. As the theme of this year’s event boldly states, “Nurturing Talents, Promoting Tourism”, we want to deploy all aspects of our popular culture, from music, sports, culinary expertise, rich cultural sites and heritage to showcase our State as the destination of choice, which we are already becoming and remain primed to attracting more tourists and visitors.

9. To the athletes who would be competing in the 18 categories at different locations – from Uyo and Eket Township Stadia respectively to Tower of Ivory, Ediene Abak, to Aka Community Secondary School – I urge you to put your talents and skills on full display, imbibe the spirit of sportsmanship, build friendship and win laurels for yourself and for the State.

10. It is therefore my happiness to declare the Akwa Ibom Sports Festival open in the name of God the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit. Let the games begin!