2025 National Sports Festival: Abia storms festival with 339 athletes, to participate in 25 sports
*As Otti receives Torch of Unity, promises reward for victorious athletes
From Boniface Okoro, Umuahia
Abia State Director of Sports, Comrade Obioma George has disclosed that the state would storm the 22nd National Sports Festival slated for Abeokuta, Ogun State with trophies-hungry 339 athletes. The sports fiesta tagged “Gateway Games” will hold from May 16 to 30, 2025.
George who spoke when officials of the National Sports Commission came to present the Torch of Peace and Unity to Governor Alex otti in Umuahia, said that athletes would fight for laurels in only 25 of the 40 sports events approved by the National Sports Commission.
“We have packaged a team of 339 athletes and they are going to the competition to participate in only 25 sports out of the 40 sports approved by the National Sports Commission,” the Sports Director said.
While commending Governor Otti for encouraging sporting activities in the state, George told the delegation to tell the National Sports Commission that the state Governor was the only Governor that has directed that sports should return to secondary schools.
“In Abia State, last year, we did a wonderful secondary school games and this year, we are doing it again.
“In last year’s school sports, one of our boys got three gold medals in weight lifting in the National Youth Games.
“Tell them that the Executive Governor of Abia is the only Governor that has appreciated the athletes. He welcomed and appreciated the paralympics, he welcomed and appreciated the under-15 National Youth Games and their officials,” George said.
Receiving the National Sports Festival Torch of Peace and Unity in preparation for the 22nd National Sports Festival, Governor Otti, described sports as one event that binds Nigerians together.
“It is with great pleasure that I welcome you to Abia. I must re-emphasize that there is something that holds everybody together and that is sports.
“It is one area where there is no discrimination, even if somebody is your son or your daughter, if he is not proficient in a game, you would not field him,” Governor Otti said.
He commended the Abia Sports team for making the state proud in previous competitions and expressed optimism that they would do even better in the Gateway Games.
“I am happy to acknowledge the appreciation from my team, the Team Abia. They have always done us proud, they have even continued to do better this time around and that is why it was not a problem to approve their proposal,” the Governor disclosed, adding that he has already made cash available for the team to participate in the game.
Governor Otti promised that as many trophies as Team Abia would be able to come back with from the sports festival, he would appreciate and celebrate them, noting that the reward for good work is more work.
He thanked the leader of the team and the National Sports Commission for coming to present the torch and assured them that Abia State would be very well represented at the festival.
Handing over the torch, the leader of the Torch Team from the National Sports Commission, Mrs. Mbora Ikana, disclosed that the festival was flagged off on March 25, 2025 .
She said that coming to Abia with the torch serves as an invitation for Abia State to participate in the forthcoming National Sports Festival and noted that the torch signifies the unity of the country.
Commissioner for Youths and Sports Development was represented by the Special Assistant to the Governor on Youth, Comrade Onyebuchi Chukwu.
