The deputy speaker, Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Hon. KufreAbasi Edidem, has assured House of Assembly’s commitment to boosting sports and other extracurricular activities in the state through appropriate funding.
Edidem, who’s representing Itu state constituency, gave the assurance in Uyo on Friday when he played host to the U-19 Women’s cricket champions and the American Flag football teams from Community Secondary Commercial School, Ibiaku Itam, Itu local government area.
The two female cricketers, Inyene Umoh and Deborah Bassey- members of Nigeria’s junior female Yellow Greens, gained international recognition after defeating International Cricket Council, ICC full member nations like New Zealand and Ireland at the ICC U-19 world cup, which held in Malaysia from January 18- February 2, 2025, by placing six position, while the American Flag football teams- male and female won the silver trophies in the Season Three secondary schools championship finals in Calabar, Cross River State.
The teams defeated 12 secondary schools in both male and female categories to lift the silver trophies.
Addressing the contingent, which included the Director of School Sports in the State Secondary Education Board, SSEB, Pastor Emmanuel Ebong, games master, Mr Ifiok Inim, coaches, and the zonal school sports coordinator, Itu, the deputy speaker lauded teams for not only making the school proud, but, the entire state. He commended games master and the coaches for believing in the abilities of the students and harnessing their talents for positive outcomes.
He also pledged continued encouragement and support for sports, especially school sports.
” I want to say that this is the Akwa Ibom spirit. You have made Akwa Ibom State proud. You have made yourselves proud. You have made your parents proud. You have made your school proud. You have made me proud, not because the secondary school is in my community and constituency, but because your achievement is a positive publicity for the state government, “Edidem, said, “I want to assure you that the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, which is the legislature would ensure appropriate funding for sports in our schools, both, the primary and the secondary schools. We’ll appropriate and also ensute that budget for sports is released through oversight. What we are witnessing today is just what the Arise Agenda of Governor Umo Eno is all about, hard work, a winning spirit, and positive impact. I’m impressed with your achievement. This shows that there are so many talents that are yet to be discovered in our state. Let’s go back to school sports.”
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He charged the students to sustain the tempo by studying hard, eschewing cultism, and training continuously ahead of their next competitions.
The deputy speaker charged sports administrators in the state prioriise long-term sports development in public schools in order to achieve sustainable growth and lasting victories in future competitions.
Edidem urged school boards, principals, and headteachers to accord sports a priority in the learning curriculum.
Responding, the director of school sports in the State, Pastor Emmanuel Ebong, said that the contingent visit to the deputy speaker was in appreciation of his numerous contributions to the development of school sports in the state, which have yielded positive impact.
The director, who represented the chairman, state secondary education board, Hon Ekaette Okon, praised the deputy speaker for being a pillar of support to the teams and the game masters. Ebong who’s the national vice chairman of the National school sports federation league, NSSFL, mentioned that the American Flag football was introduced in secondary schools about three years ago, and that Cricket, though a relatively known sports has been gaining ground in the county. He also hinted that Community Secondary Commercial School, Ibiaku Itam, has been selected to be a centre for nurturing the game of cricket
He said that Akwa Ibom State’s blessed with abundant sports talents, if horned and groomed, were capable of winning national and global laurels.
He promised that the teams would not rest on their oars, but, sustain the tempo by commencing preparations for the next competitions later in the year and appealed for support.
The teams later presented the trophies to the deputy speaker, who rewarded the contingent of officials, games master, coaches, captains, and players with cash gifts.
