Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, has disclosed plans by the state to host a sports festival to discover talents and grow the sports industry.
The governor made this known when he hosted Akwa Ibom sports stars William Troost-Ekong and Idara Otu, along with their families, to dinner at his lodge at Government House, Uyo.
He said the dinner was simply to demonstrate how much the duo are valued and celebrated for their talent, which has stood them out globally, and has helped project their father’s land, Akwa Ibom State, to the world.
Governor Eno said it has become an entrenched practice in his administration to celebrate Akwa Ibom people who, through the dint of hard work, are making impacts in the different fields of human endeavours, and making the State proud.
He said sports development is one of the key areas of the ARISE Agenda, adding that the soon-to-be-flagged-off sports academy and other efforts within the sector, including other sporting facilities at the ARISE Resort, are geared towards promoting Sports and sports tourism.
The Governor said through the, efforts of successive leaders, the State has the only FIFA approved football field in the country and a standard Olympic size swimming pools, adding that with the support of Akwa Ibom sports stars, the vision of sports development, as contained in the ARISE Agenda, will be fully actualized.
He appreciated Troost-Ekong for his backwards integration programmes and expressed hope that with such gestures, young talents would be discovered and groomed for the future.
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The Governor who has, on several occasions, celebrated different Akwa Ibom sons and daughters who are blazing the trail and making impacts, called on them to partner with the State in their areas of strength, to assist groom the younger ones and sustain the trajectory of making the state play big at the International scene.
In his tone setting, the Commissioner for Sports, Elder Paul Bassey, appreciated the Governor for hosting the sports stars, saying that it was not a mean feat for the State to have a captain of the National team, and one who is doing so well.
Bassey, who enumerated some giant strides of Governor Eno’s administration in the sports sector, said the governor was very passionate about reviving sports in the state.
In his remarks, Troost-Ekong appreciated the governor for taking time to host him and his family, as well as Idara Otu, the star athlete, and her family.
He said he was in the country for some talent hunt under the auspices of Troost Ekong Foundation, with a mission to empower Nigerian and African youths with football and education and to inspire success, resilience, and community leadership.
The football star commended Governor Eno for his leadership philosophy, development strides, and foresight, progressive alignment with the government at the centre, which he said will positively impact the state.
Troost-Ekong is a professional footballer, captains the Nigeria national team, the Super Eagles, and plays as a centre-back for Saudi Pro League club Al-Kholood.
Otu is a Nigerian sprinter. She competed in the 4 × 400 m relay event at the 2012 Summer Olympics. Otu was an All-American sprinter for the Stanford Cardinal track and field team, finishing 3rd on the 400 m leg of the distance medley relay at the 2008 NCAA Division I Indoor Track and Field Championships.
At the dinner were the Coordinator, Office of the First Lady-Designate, Lady Helen Eno-Obareki; Secretary to the State Government, Prince Enobong Uwah; Executive Assistant/Chief Delivery Advisor, Mr Aniefiok Johnson; Dean College of Commissioners, Hon Frank Archibong; immediate past Commissioner for Youths and Sports, Sir Monday Uko; and other members of the State Executive Council.
