Sports
Akwa Ibom Wins Golf Event
Bayelsa State at the weekend won the golf event of the ongoing 17th National Sports Festival in Port, leading other states with two gold medals.
Lagos, Plateau, Delta, Akwa Ibom and Rivers won one gold medal each.
Winners also emerged in the Doubles Match Play Category, Singles Categories I and II, Doubles Categories I and II, Ladies Gold Division and Combined Net Scores Individual Categories.
Samuel Eto, who shares the same name with Cameroon soccer international, Samuel Eto, won the gold for Akwa Ibom with team mate Samuel Achale.
Eto, who hails from Esiene Udom Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom, told NAN that his name meant “God’s Sword’’.
“The name has brought a lot of pressure on me to be as successful as the world renowned football star.
“This victory at the sports festival will motivate me to win future laurels in the sport and attain global recognition.”
He expressed the hope to meet the Cameroonian player soon and recalled that he had won several laurels in the sport.
“I won in one of the categories of the ‘Nigeria at 50 Golf Tournament’, played at the IBB Golf and Country Club Abuja in 2010.”
Edet Umoh, Head Coach of the Akwa Ibom Team, said he hoped to win at least five gold medals at the festival.
The South African-based golfer who was Nigeria’s No.1 ranked professional golfer in 2008/2009, rated the standard of play at the festival low.
“The golf event at this sports festival is the least in standard of all the festivals I have attended and the golf authorities should address the situation.”
The Bayelsa State government, yesterday, announced that the marathon will be held on Saturday, April 4, 2026.
The inaugural race is owned by the Bayelsa State Government and will be organised by Nilayo Sports Management Limited, a sports management company.
Under the theme “The Reveal,” the race represents a bold unveiling of Bayelsa’s immense human and cultural potential to the international community, inviting the world to witness the resilience, grit, and talent rooted in the heart of the Niger Delta.
According to the organisers, the race will be flagged off at 9:30 a.m., at the Opolo Roundabout, guiding participants through a carefully designed 10-kilometre route that highlights the scenic beauty and vibrant atmosphere of Yenagoa.
The course will culminate at Peace Park Square, where athletes will cross the finish line into a grand celebration of endurance, unity, and community spirit.
To elevate the experience for runners and spectators alike, the finish venue will host a high-energy post-race concert featuring performances from top A-list artistes, blending sport and entertainment in a festival-style atmosphere.
The organisers directed all registered participants to collect their race bibs and kits at the designated Peace Park Square between March 30 and April 3, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. daily.
The race, according to them, is currently on track for World Athletics accreditation, underscoring the commitment of both the Bayelsa State Government and Nilayo Sports Management Limited to delivering an event that meets the highest global standards.
The Director General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Bukola Olopade, on Friday continued the Commission’s nationwide appreciation tour with a visit to Abeokuta, where outstanding junior athlete, Majekodunmi Afusat Bisola, was presented with a cheque of N3 million.
The presentation forms part of the NSC’s initiative to recognise and reward exceptional junior athletes who distinguished themselves in 2025 and contributed significantly to Nigeria’s medal haul.
Majekodunmi delivered an impressive run of performances on the track. At the last edition of the National Sports Festival, she stormed to gold in the 400m and the 4x400m relay. She replicated the double triumph at the Confederation of African Athletics (CAA) Junior Championship, in Abeokuta, before emerging as one of the standout stars at the African Youth Games in Luanda, Angola.
Speaking during the presentation, Olopade explained that the Commission deemed it necessary to extend financial appreciation to grassroots athletes after elite performers had earlier received grants running into thousands of dollars.
“A few weeks ago, after paying grants to our elite athletes, we agreed tthere was a need to also appreciate these young, budding talents who made Nigeria proud last year,” he said.
He disclosed that of the 376 medals recorded by Nigerian athletes in 2025, more than 200 were won by grassroots talents, underscoring the importance of sustained investment in youth development.
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