The Akwa Ibom State Ministry of Sports activities has formally ushered within the 2026 administrative yr with a solemn prayer and thanksgiving service, reaffirming its dedication to non secular alignment, self-discipline, and results-driven service supply.
The service, held on January 6, 2026, on the Convention Corridor of the Ministry, introduced collectively administration, workers, and representatives of sports activities associations in a symbolic begin to a yr the Ministry has boldly tagged “a yr of labor.”
Talking on the occasion, the Honourable Commissioner for Sports activities, Elder Paul Bassey, harassed that thanksgiving stays the muse of progress, noting that Akwa Ibom State’s regular growth is deeply rooted in religion. He reminded workers that the state is led by His Excellency, Pastor Umo Bassey Eno, describing him as a God-fearing chief whose imaginative and prescient continues to form the expansion of sports activities within the state.
Elder Bassey counseled the Governor for his unwavering help for sports activities growth, significantly within the areas of athlete motivation, expertise discovery, and grassroots nurturing, which he mentioned have positioned Akwa Ibom as a reference level in Nigerian sports activities administration.
Charging workers to lift the bar in 2026, the Commissioner urged the workforce to embrace a productive, disciplined, and result-oriented tradition, whereas saying plans for workers coaching and capacity-building programmes aimed toward enhancing effectivity {and professional} competence.
He additionally known as on sports activities associations to submit their annual exercise schedules early to allow correct planning and seamless execution of sporting programmes throughout the state.
Formally declaring 2026 as a yr of “Love, Unity, and Togetherness,” Elder Bassey outlined three strategic pillars to drive the Ministry’s agenda: unwavering dedication to its core mandate, exhausting work to surpass earlier achievements, and sustained enthusiasm to take care of excessive morale throughout the sports activities sector.
In a transfer to spice up motivation, the Sports activities Commissioner introduced the introduction of a “Employees of the 12 months” award, designed to acknowledge and reward excellent dedication, excellence, and dedication to obligation.
Wanting forward, Elder Bassey recognized the proposed Sports activities Academy undertaking as a flagship precedence for 2026, describing it as a long-term funding aimed toward discovering, growing, and grooming younger abilities to maintain Akwa Ibom on the forefront of Nigerian sports activities, in step with Governor Eno’s imaginative and prescient.
Earlier within the service, the Director of Services, Mr. Victor Owokure, delivered the homily from Daniel 6:3, emphasizing that Daniel’s desire was rooted in his “glorious spirit.” He inspired workers to embody excellence in character, imaginative and prescient, and duty, particularly when representing the state at competitions.
In her remarks, the Everlasting Secretary of the Ministry, Mrs. Rosemary Ubia, thanked God for a brand new administrative yr and urged workers to “elevate their flag” by means of excellence. She reminded employees that the duty for 2026 had already begun, charging them to stay dedicated, diligent, and constant at their obligation posts.
The service climaxed with particular prayers supplied for Governor Pastor Umo Bassey Eno, the Akwa Ibom State Authorities, and the complete workforce of the Ministry of Sports activities, committing the management, the state, and its sports activities sector into divine steering and safety for a profitable 2026.
