The ongoing edition of the Akwa Ibom Sports Festival, today recorded a major boost with the addition of Golf to the line-up of games available on the medal tables.
The golf tournament which is taking place at the Ibom Hotel and Golf Resort, has golfers drawn from the 31 local government areas of the state ,including non-indigenous clusters.
Performing the tee-off, Governor Umo Eno, described the decision to include golf for the first time as part of the administration’s broader vision to deepen inclusion and boost utilization for the state’s golfing assets.
Represented by the Commissioner for Sports and Development , Elder Paul Bassey, the governor while listing the golf course and sports arcade at the ARISE Palm Resort in addition to effective maintenance of other sports facilities, restated commitment to developing exportable sports talent in the state.
Describing golfing as a major component of the ARISE Agenda’s quest in promoting tourism, the commissioner appreciated the state golfing community and announced the Ministry of Sports Development’s plans to strengthen partnerships that would bring the state more tournaments .
Describing Governor Eno as sports-loving, the Captain of the Ibom Golf and Country Club, Mr. Isuamfon Archibong ,hailed the inclusion of golf in this year’s edition of the State’s Sports Festival as an initiative that would help shore-up interest in golf.
Archibong, while congratulating the government and people of the state on the 39th anniversary of creation, appreciated the governor’s huge investments in providing and maintaining golfing assets, promising the club’s continued support for the administration.
Conveying the gratitude of the golfing community some of the participants including, Senator Bassey Albert, Elder Effiong Essien, Hon. Kufre Edidem and others in their goodwill messages were hopeful that the inclusion would energize Akwa Ibom’s acclaim as a golfing destination on the continent.
On the various flights representing different local government areas in the tournament are Senator Bassey Albert Akpan, Ibiono Ibom; Hon Onofiok Luke, Nsit Ubium; Isuamfon Archibong, Uyo; Elder Effiong Essien, Ibesikpo Asutan; Hon. Kufre Edidem, Itu; Mr. Sam Ekpenyong, Ibeno; Hon. Asuquo Nnana, Ikono; Ifiok Nyong, Abak; Nsima Ekanem, Ikot Ekpene., while Dare Ayodele and Ndubisi David are in for non-indigenous groups.