Itu LGA Emerges Overall Winner Of Akwa Ibom State Sports Festival 2025

By; PATRICK TITUS, Uyo

Out of 31 local government areas that competed in the weeklong Akwa Ibom State Sports Festival tagged: Ibom 2025, Itu Local Government Area has emerged the overall winner with 106 medals and clinched N15 million.

Uyo Local Government Area clinched second position with 47 medals and received N10 million, while the third place trophy went to Nsit Attai who won 39 medals and received N5 million.

The state governor, Pastor Umo Eno who announced the cash awards at the closing of the festival on Saturday, also awarded N2 million as consolation prize for each of the remaining local government areas for participating in the sports festa.

To boost the morale of the individual athletes and uplift them economically, the Governor also announced cash rewards of ₦500,000 for gold, ₦250,000 for silver, and ₦150,000 for bronze winners across the 31 local government areas of the state.

He added that athletes who excelled at the just-concluded National Youth Games in Asaba, where Akwa Ibom placed 7th with 11 gold, 9 silver, and 10 bronze medals, would also benefit from the package and receive further training at the State’s Sports Academy in Eket.

Governor Eno noted sports as a multi-billion-dollar global industry, adding that it was the reason why it centered prominently as a cardinal point of his administration sports tourism drive under the ARISE Agenda.

“The theme of the Festival – Nurturing Talents, Promoting Tourism – captures our strategic vision to grow beyond oil and position Akwa Ibom as a hub for sports and tourism.” He said.

Governor Eno directed the Sports Ministry and the Inter-Ministerial Organizing Committee, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, to begin preparations for next year’s edition and also revive inter-house sports and football competitions across secondary schools.

He recalled that legends such as Etim Esin, James Etokebe, and the late Uwem Ekarika emerged from such grassroots contests.

Governor Eno, who stressed that sports have grown into a multi-million-dollar global industry, urged stakeholders in Akwa Ibom to take deliberate steps to identify and promote young talents who can compete favorably with their counterparts worldwide.

“After one week of intense but healthy competition, this sports festival has produced winners at every level. Today, we have proven that Akwa Ibom is ready for a sports renaissance. Congratulations to us all.”the Governor said.

It would be recalled that the Akwa Ibom State sports festival was organized by the state government, attracted over 3,600 athletes from the 31 local government areas competed in 18 individual and five team sports, showcasing what the Governor described as “an infectious spirit of unity, brotherhood, sportsmanship, and peace.”

It was aimed to uncover hidden sports talents from the grassroots, nurture and groom raw talents capable of competing and excelling on the global stage, besides aiming to boost the tourism sector of the state.