After prolonged anticipation and public concern, the Akwa Ibom State Government has finally fulfilled its commitment to the winners of the 2023 Governor’s Cup football competition, disbursing the long-awaited prize money on Tuesday, July 1, 2025.
In a symbolic but impactful ceremony, cheques were formally presented to the top three performing Local Government Areas. Tournament champions Ikot Abasi LGA received ₦10 million, while Uyo LGA, the runners-up, were awarded ₦6 million. Urue Offong Oruko, who clinched third place after defeating Essien Udim, smiled home with ₦4 million.
The revised prize structure, which doubled the original figures of ₦5 million, ₦3 million, and ₦2 million respectively, had earlier been announced by Governor Umo Eno as part of his administration’s broader commitment to grassroots sports development.
Performing the presentation, the State Commissioner for Sports, Elder Paul Bassey, who praised the winning teams for their resilience and emphasized the Governor’s unwavering resolve to prioritize youth and sports empowerment. The brief ceremony was witnessed by key stakeholders including the Chairman of the Akwa Ibom State Football Association and representatives of the Local Government Councils.
“This gesture not only rewards excellence but reinforces the state government’s seriousness about harnessing local talent through meaningful investment,” Elder Bassey stated.
With the payment issue now resolved, the sports community’s focus turns to the forthcoming Akwa Ibom State Sports Festival, recently approved during the State Executive Council meeting in June. The festival aims to harness the energy of local talents and expand the reach of community-based sporting events across all LGAs.
Observers believe that with such consistent backing, the state is poised to become a benchmark for grassroots sports development in Nigeria.
Source: Ikechukwu Agbamegbue, FRCN, UYo
