The inaugural edition of the Abia State Tertiary Education Sports Fiesta has been declared open by the Governor of Abia State, Dr. Alex Otti, with a promise that his administration will continue to invest in youth development.
The Governor, who was represented by the Deputy Governor, Engr. Ikechukwu Emetu, reiterated the government’s unwavering commitment to youth development, talent discovery, and inclusion.
“From this field,” the Deputy Governor said, “will emerge national heroes, continental champions, and Olympians.”
Earlier, in her welcome address, the Honourable Commissioner for Tertiary Education, Prof. Uche Eme-Uche, stated that the fiesta is anchored on the powerful theme, “Compete, Unite, Conquer,” which captures the spirit of what the New Abia stands for.
“This fiesta,” the Commissioner stated, “is the first of its kind, bringing together students from every corner of our state’s tertiary education ecosystem — our universities, polytechnics, colleges of education, and specialized institutes. It reflects our belief that education must go beyond the classroom, nurturing the body as much as the mind.”
Prof. Eme-Uche appreciated the Governor for his “unwavering support for education and youth development, which has made this initiative possible. This fiesta stands today as yet another testament to your youth-focused governance.”
In his remarks, the Commissioner for Sports and Youth Development, Sir Nwaobilor Ananaba, noted that one of the Abia State Government’s most critical mandates is to identify, nurture, and celebrate the talents of the youth.
“We began this journey with renewed energy,” he said, “through the statewide sports festival tagged The Abia State Governor’s Secondary School Unity Games, deliberately building a pipeline of talent discovery from the grassroots to our schools. Today’s event is a continuation of that vision, engaging our tertiary institutions as a vital part of our sports development ecosystem.”
The 13 tertiary institutions participating in the five-day event are: Gregory University Uturu; Abia State College of Education (Technical), Arochukwu; Amadeus University; Spiritan University; Rhema University; Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike; and Abia State College of Nursing Sciences.
Others include Madonna College of Health Technology; Federal College of Education, Ofoeme; Nigerian British University; Abia State University, Uturu; and St. Anthony College of Nursing Sciences, Aba.
They will compete for glory in 24 sports, including athletics, judo, scrabble, table tennis, taekwondo, and football.
Highlights of the opening ceremony included a march-past by the participating teams, lighting of the competition’s torch, calisthenics display by students of Abayi Girls’ Secondary School, Aba, and the oath-taking by representatives of the participants and officials.
The competition will run from today until November 29, 2025, at the Umuahia Township Stadium.
