By Peter Omopo
Uyo, September 9, 2025 — The Akwa Ibom State Sports Festival has officially commenced, bringing together more than 3,000 athletes who will compete across 18 sporting events.
The opening ceremony, held in Uyo on Tuesday, marked the beginning of the week-long games designed to showcase talent, foster unity, and promote grassroots sports development in the state.
Declaring the festival open, state officials said the competition would serve as a platform to discover young talents capable of representing Akwa Ibom — and Nigeria — at national and international levels.
Events at the festival include athletics, football, basketball, table tennis, volleyball, swimming, and other Olympic and non-Olympic sports.
The State Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development described the festival as “a landmark initiative to rekindle the spirit of sportsmanship, teamwork, and excellence among our youths.”
He added that beyond competition, the festival was expected to stimulate economic activities in host communities while strengthening Akwa Ibom’s reputation as a hub for sports in Nigeria.
Athletes from all 31 local government areas of the state are participating, with winners set to receive medals, trophies, and opportunities for further development through state-sponsored training programmes.
The festival continues throughout the week, with finals scheduled for Sunday.
