RismadarVoice Reporters, April 24, 2026
The Akwa Ibom State Government has taken a decisive step toward revitalising grassroots sports development with the inauguration of an 11-member committee to drive the Grassroots Sports Development Initiative (GSDI).
The committee was inaugurated on Thursday at the office of the Honourable Commissioner for Sports, Paul Bassey, in a move aimed at repositioning sports development at its foundational level across the state.
Speaking during the ceremony, Bassey said the initiative aligns with the directive of Governor Umo Eno, who had emphasised the urgent need to revive grassroots sports, particularly within the school system, during the closing ceremony of the 2025 Akwa Ibom State Sports Festival.
According to the Commissioner, the Governor subsequently mandated the Ministries of Sports, Education, and Youth Development to work collaboratively to actualise this vision.
“It is imperative that we refocus our efforts at the grassroots. The classroom remains the bedrock of sustainable sports development,” Bassey said, expressing concern over the declining state of school sports.
He stressed the importance of inter-ministerial synergy, noting that stronger coordination among relevant agencies would be critical to achieving meaningful impact.
“We have initiated strategic engagements with the Ministry of Education to refine our approach. Youth development is intrinsically linked to sports, and this synergy must be deepened,” he added.
The GSDI committee, he explained, has been tasked with developing a sustainable framework to promote mass participation in sports, facilitate early talent identification, and nurture athletes from the community level to elite performance pathways.
Key objectives of the initiative include increasing youth participation in organised sports among children aged 6 to 17, identifying and developing emerging talents, promoting health, discipline, and social cohesion, and establishing structured grassroots competitions across the state.
The programme will target primary and secondary school students, community-based youth sports clubs, women, and persons with disabilities. It also seeks to revive inter-house sports competitions in schools as part of efforts to rebuild foundational sporting structures.
Describing the initiative as a strategic intervention, Bassey expressed confidence in the committee’s ability to deliver actionable recommendations capable of transforming the state’s sports landscape.
The committee comprises representatives from key ministries and agencies. From the Ministry of Sports are Mrs Brigidi Otton (Director of Sports and Chairman), Mrs Catherine Ekuta (Director of Coaching), Mr Victor Owokure (Director of Facilities), and Coach Stephen Ekpo.
Representing the Ministry of Education are Mrs Kokomma B. Akpan, Mrs Nikoyo Inyangette, and Dr Aniete Ikot (Director, Secondary and Higher Education), while the Ministry of Youth Development is represented by Mr Otobong Paul Etuk and Utibobong Obed.
Mr Emmanuel Ebong, Director of School Sports at the State Secondary Education Board, will serve as Secretary of the committee, while the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Welfare is also represented.
Charging the members, the Commissioner urged them to discharge their responsibilities with diligence, professionalism, and a strong sense of duty, noting that their recommendations would play a critical role in shaping the future of sports development in the state.
He added that the committee’s report would be submitted to the Governor for consideration and possible implementation.
The 11-member committee has been given a 14-day deadline to submit a comprehensive report, underscoring the urgency of the state government’s plan to revitalise grassroots sports and position Akwa Ibom as a leading force in sports development.
The inauguration ceremony featured the administration of the oath of office, followed by a congratulatory handshake with the Commissioner for Sports. Other dignitaries in attendance included the Commissioner for Youth Development, Ekerette Ekanem; the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Welfare, Inibehe Etukudo; and Hon. Uwemedimo, representing Uyo Constituency in the State House of Assembly.
