UMUAHIA — More than 1,000 student-athletes from across Abia State will compete in 28 sporting events as the second edition of the Abia All Secondary School Games kicks off on July 29 at the Umuahia Township Stadium.
The announcement was made on Thursday by the state’s Commissioner for Sports and Youth Development, Sir Obilor Ananaba, during a press briefing in Umuahia. He said the four-day event would bring together champions from all 17 Local Government Areas and will feature sports such as football, basketball, taekwondo, volleyball, and shooting.
Obilor described the annual event as a platform for talent discovery and youth empowerment, noting that the impact of the inaugural edition in 2024 was already being felt at both national and international levels.
“Some of the talents discovered during the first edition have already traveled abroad to pursue careers in sports,” the Commissioner said. “Three of them were invited to Hungary, and Barcelona Football Club also invited one player and a local coach from the state for training and talent recruitment collaboration.”
He added that several athletes from the 2024 games represented Abia at the recently concluded National Sports Festival, reflecting the success of the state’s grassroots development efforts.
“Our goal is to revive school games across the state, so we can catch them young and nurture them to global standards,” Obilor said.
He also announced that Governor Alex Otti has approved free accommodation and lunch for all participating athletes during the competition, as part of his administration’s support for youth and sports development.
The state’s Director of Sports, Comrade Obioma George, also spoke at the briefing, stating that the competition is open to both public and private schools, with participants selected through local government-level qualifiers.
George highlighted the success of young athletes from Abia, including Chinyere Okafor, a rising table tennis star currently representing Nigeria in Algeria.
“We are optimistic that the second edition will unearth even more promising talents,” he said.
The event is expected to attract scouts, coaches, and sports stakeholders keen on discovering and nurturing Abia’s next generation of elite athletes.
