From Musa Muhammad Kutama, Calabar
The Main Organising Committee (MOC) of the 2026 Akwa Ibom State Sports Festival has released the list of approved sports and designated venues for the state sports festival, as the state prepares for the commencement of the event on Tuesday, September 22, 2026.
In a statement to our reporter, Mfon Patrick said the Chairman of the Main Organising Committee and Commissioner for Sports, Elder Paul Bassey, confirmed that a total of 27 sports disciplines would be contested by athletes representing the 31 Local Government Areas of the state.
The competitions will take place across 11 designated venues within Uyo and its environs, with the festival scheduled to run from Tuesday, September 22, to Tuesday, September 29, 2026.
The approved sports and designated venues are as follows:
Uyo Township Stadium: Opening Ceremony, Football, Kokowa (Traditional Wrestling) and Closing Ceremony.
Godswill Akpabuyo International Stadium: Athletics, Para-Athletics, Weightlifting,
Kickboxing, Boxing, Chess, Scrabble, Ayo and Para-Powerlifting.
West Itam Sports Centre: Basketball, Volleyball, Beach Volleyball and Handball.
Ibom Hotels & Golf Resort: Tennis.
Nigerian Christian Institute (NCI): Badminton, Wrestling, Taekwondo and Judo.
QIC Primary School, Itam Flyover: Rugby.
Parience (KEMI) Umo Eno Hall: Table Tennis, Karate and Kung Fu.
NUJ Press Centre, Information Drive, Uyo: Information and media-related activities.
Uyo Sports Club, Wellington Bassey Way, Uyo: Squash.
Community Secondary Commercial School, Ibiaiku Itam: Cricket.
Aka Community Secondary School, Uyo: Baseball.
The MOC is expected to release the official timetable and event fixtures ahead of the commencement of the festival, providing participating Local Government Areas, athletes, officials and spectators with details of the dates, times and venues for the various competitions.
The 2026 Akwa Ibom State Sports Festival is expected to bring together athletes from all 31 Local Government Areas in a celebration of sporting talent, unity and healthy competition, while providing a platform for the discovery and development of emerging athletes across the state.