Akwa Ibom Celebrates Commonwealth Qualification for Two Judokas
By Maxwell Kumoye
Two judokas from Akwa Ibom State, Enku Ekuta and Immaculata Ufot, have qualified for the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow following impressive performances at the Commonwealth Trials organised by the Nigeria Judo Federation in Abuja.
The athletes were received on Friday by the Akwa Ibom State Ministry of Sports after returning from the trials held at the MKO Abiola National Stadium, Abuja, where they earned qualification in their respective weight categories.
Enku Ekuta competed in the women’s -63kg category, while Immaculata Ufot featured in the women’s -57kg division, with both athletes securing podium finishes to book their places for the Commonwealth Games later this year.
The medalists were formally presented to the Commissioner for Sports, Elder Paul Bassey, by the state Judo team led by coaches Kachi David and Adesuji Adebiyi during a reception at the Ministry of Sports.
Speaking during the reception, Elder Bassey described the qualification of the athletes as another “harvest of excellence” for Akwa Ibom sports, coming shortly after successes recorded in weightlifting and athletics.
He praised the judokas for once again projecting Akwa Ibom State and Nigeria positively through dedication, discipline and hard work, while noting that Judo has continued to remain one of the state’s most reliable sports at national assignments.
The Commissioner also lauded Governor Umo Eno for creating an enabling environment for sports development in the state.
“I will never be tired of appreciating our sports-friendly Governor for all the successes we are receiving so far,” Bassey said.
“The stand-alone sports ministry, state sports festival and the availability of equipment for all the sports have started yielding excellent fruits.”
He added that the reward system introduced by the state government has continued to motivate athletes to strive for excellence, noting that sustained investment in sports was already producing results across several disciplines.
Earlier, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Sports, Mrs Rosemary Ubia, described the Akwa Ibom Judo team as a “gold winning team,” stating that their performances at the trials justified the government’s continuous support for sports development.
She congratulated the athletes for returning with medals and assured them of the Ministry’s continued support ahead of future national and international competitions.
Speaking on behalf of the athletes, Immaculata Ufot expressed appreciation to Governor Umo Eno for the encouragement and support given to athletes in the state, saying the gesture had inspired the team to work harder and win more medals for Akwa Ibom and Nigeria.
Also present at the reception were the Director of Sports, Mrs Brigid Otton, and the Director of Coaching and Technical Unit, Coach Catherine Ekuta.
Comments
Post a Comment