No fewer than 3,600 athletes will participate in the upcoming Akwa Ibom State Sports Festival christened IBOM 2025.
The festival, scheduled to take place from September 8th to September 13th, 2025, will feature 18 sporting events.
Commissioner for Information Aniekan Umanah disclosed this yesterday during a media briefing at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium where the festival’s logo was officially unveiled.
Umanah stated that the festival aims to foster unity, provide a platform for athletes to showcase their talents, and position the state to tap into the lucrative global sports market.
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The Commissioner expressed appreciation to Governor Umo Eno for approving the festival, noting that it underscores the administration’s commitment to sports development and tourism. “Sports development, particularly sports tourism, is a key component of the Governor’s ARISE Agenda. It is embedded in Aspiration II, Item Number 8, which focuses specifically on this sector. This initiative is a product of the Governor’s deep strategic thinking,” Umanah added.
Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Elder Paul Bassey, confirmed that this will be the first state sports festival under the current administration, which he praised for its “sincere commitment to the development of sports” since inception. He affirmed that the festival is designed to position the state for “dominance in national and international competitions.”