Team Akwa Ibom enters the final stretch of the 22nd National Sports Festival with renewed determination, following a medal-winning Sunday that brought the contingent’s total haul to 28 medals—comprising 9 gold, 7 silver, and 12 bronze.
The team had a productive outing on Sunday, May 25, securing four additional medals across key events. Notably, Squash contributed a fifth medal—another bronze, reaffirming its role as a reliable medal source. On the track, Ndikponke Okure claimed bronze in the fiercely contested 400m hurdles, while Judo continued to shine as Akwa Ibom’s top-performing discipline.
Judo stars Immaculata Nelson Ufot and Enku Ewa Ekuta both clinched gold in the women’s 57kg and 63kg categories respectively. Ekuta’s victory was especially remarkable, marking her fourth consecutive national title and cementing her dominance in the sport nationwide.
As the new week kicks off, the team remains focused on expanding its gold medal tally with several high-stakes events scheduled across venues in Abeokuta and surrounding areas.
All eyes are now on sprinter Victor Ime Samson, who stormed into the men’s 400m final with a personal best of 45.99 seconds—making him a formidable contender for a podium finish.
The prestigious MKO Abiola Stadium will continue to buzz with action, hosting Athletics, Tennis, and Cricket, where Akwa Ibom athletes are poised to compete for top honours. Meanwhile, Table Tennis enters its second day, with athletes battling to make medal breakthroughs.
At the Alake Sports Center, Squash players are expected to elevate their performance as they chase a historic gold medal for the sport, which currently accounts for one silver and four bronze medals.
Other scheduled events include ongoing Athletics competitions at the MKO Abiola and Abeokuta stadium tracks, Judo bouts at Illisan Hall, and intense combat sports action—Boxing and Kickboxing—at the Baptist High School, Abeokuta. Scrabble concludes today’s itinerary for Team Akwa Ibom at the Remo Stadium.
With strong showings anticipated across multiple disciplines, Team Akwa Ibom is strategically positioned to make a decisive impact in the closing days of the festival, as the athletes aim to climb higher on the overall medal standings.
