Written by Francis Nwaubani
Hardly had the echoes of the huge success recorded in the Maiden Edition of the Abia State Governor’s Secondary School Games died down, Abians woke up to the joyful news that the Second Edition is set to take place this year.
This indeed is in keeping with the promise of the Sports loving Governor, Dr. Alex Otti at the grand finale of the Maiden Edition at the Umuahia Township Stadium last year that the grassroots development sports event will become an annual ritual.
Sports have remained a veritable tool for the empowerment of individuals, House-holds, communities, states and Nations and indeed a lucrative global business that churns out billions of dollars to participants, sponsors, spectators, investors among others.
And like a Veteran Sports analysts,FIFA rated historian and former Abia State Director of Sport, Mr. Ejikeme Ikwunze, popularly known as Mr. Football once said “quota” “Everybody’s talent cannot be in book learning and writing as some have theirs in their hands and legs through sports and other spheres of life” unquote.
It’s gladdening to know that Abia has keyed into this global opportunity provided through sports by the present administration in the sponsorship of the Abia State Governor’s Secondary Schools Games providing a channel for the aboundant budding talents across all nooks and crannies of Abia to excel.
Under Governor Otti’s watch, Abia has participated and excelled in various International and National Sports Competitions including Nigeria’s foremost sports event, the National Sports Festival of which Abia is set to showcase its abundant talent again with the drums already beating in Abeokuta, Ogun State for another edition.
This is in addition to Abia shouldering four professional National Football Club-sides including, Enyimba, Abia Warriors, Abia Angels and Abia Comets with the Abia Warriors edging towards their first ever continental ticket as the present football league season in Nigeria gradually winds-up.
This year’s edition of the Abia State Governor’s secondary Schools Games hits ground running at the various Headquarters of the seventeen Local Government Areas from today Monday 12th till Wednesday 14th of May 2025 while it is open for both Public and Private Secondary Schools in each Local Government Area to contest for honours.
The different Local Government Area Mayors are expected to see that the school games turn out a success in their various councils with adequate timely and financial- logistics supports while the councils and Local Organizing Committees should close ranks and eschew all forms of wrangling to ensure that the aims and objectives of the competition are achieved in their areas.
The Local Government events will be followed by the magnificent torch run round the councils before the commencement of the state finals at the Umuahia Township Stadium by next month, June this year.
It is the expectation of all to see the emergence of new champions in this year’s event surpassing the likes of Umuahia North who took the overall First Position in last years event with Aba South and Isuikwuato coming Second and Third.
One would also want to witness the emergence of new sports talents like Vitalis Eze who rose from the competition last year to win Three Gold Medals for Abia at the last National Youth Games held in Delta State as well as Osuoha Bright, who conquered in Para-Athletics at the just concluded Niger Delta Sports Festival at Uyo.
This piece will not be complete if mention is not given to Alison Mercy who distinguished in Wrestling at the just concluded Niger Delta Sports Festival at Uyo while Ikechukwu Chiamaka also from the dusts of the Maiden Edition of the Abia State Governor’s Secondary Schools Games won Silver Medal at the last National Youth Games in Delta state.
Kudos must be given the duo of the Abia State Commissioner for Youths and Sports Development, Sir Nwobilor Ananaba and the State Director of Sports, Comrade Obioma George for being trail-blazers in sports management and administration in Abia currently resulting to visible results.
They should also gird their loins towards doing more for Abia sports as to whom much is given, much is also expected.
Government on its own should look into commencing the proposed Abia Ultra-Modern Stadium to cap the joys and expectations of the thousands of Sports Fans and supporters across the state.
