By Uwem Ekoh
The Chairman of Etinan Local Government Area, Hon Uko Umo has scored organisers of the just concluded Niger Delta Sports Festival high.
The Council helmsman who spoke with this reporter during the closing ceremony of the Niger Delta Sports Festival last Tuesday at Uyo Township Stadium commended the NDDC for organizing what he called a successful, exciting and rewarding sports event.
He described the festival as worthwhile and benefiting to Akwa Ibom State and other states in the Niger Delta State region.
He praised Akwa Ibom athletes for their performance in the inaugural sports festival and expressed confidence that they will do well in subsequent editions and other sporting events within and outside the region.
Hon Umoh believed that the maiden Niger Delta Sports festival was an opportunity to develop and mould Akwa Ibom athletes for future competitions.
Here him, ” I am so excited that Akwa Ibom athletes have made history in the first edition of the Sports Festival, I trust that this will mould and prepare them for future competitions.
“This is a unique platform to discover, groom and showcase young athletes from Akwa Ibom State for national and international competitive events”
The Etinan boss also commended and appreciated the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Pastor Umo Eno PhD ,for hosting the first edition of the festival.
He said, Akwa Ibom State state was a good host for the festival and the gesture attracted thousands of people across the nation to the state, adding that it gathering of sports men and women in the region also boosted the economy of the state.
The Etinan Council Chairman promised to develop youths of his area in various sports and will improve human capital development in his tenure.
Akwa Ibom took 6th position on the media table of the festival with 9 gold, 14 silver and 14 bronze, making a total of 37 medals, while Bayelsa, Delta, Rivers, Edo and Ondo won first, second, third, fourth and fifth positions respectively.
