By Musa Muhammad Kutama, Calabar
Three staff members of Akwa United Football Club have been awarded certificates by the National Institute for Sports (NIS) after successfully completing an eight-week intensive Executive Coaching Certificate Programme in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.
The graduates are the club’s former captain, Otobong Effiong; goalkeeper coach, Bassey Akpan; and kits manager, Akparawa Isaiah Ibanga, popularly known as “Commissioner.”
According to a statement issued to sports journalists in Uyo by Mfon Patrick, the three officials were among 107 participants who successfully completed the programme.
The statement said the graduation ceremony was held at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo, on Wednesday, October 28, 2026, where participants received Basic Certificates in Sports Coaching after completing the theoretical and practical components of the training.
Effiong, who currently serves as Akwa United’s Camp Commandant, played for the Promise Keepers from 2008 to 2023.
During his time with the club, he captained the team to three national titles, including the Federation Cup victories in 2015 and 2017 and the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) title in 2021.
He remains one of the club’s most successful captains.
Akpan, the club’s goalkeeper coach, is a former international who represented Nigeria at various levels.
During his playing career, he won the NPFL title with three different clubs: Enyimba in the 2001/2002 season, Bayelsa United in 2009/2010 and Akwa United in 2021/2022.
Meanwhile, Ibanga, who graduated with distinction, serves as Akwa United’s kits manager and is an experienced member of the club’s backroom staff, with considerable expertise in kits management.
The acquisition of the coaching certificates by the three officials is expected to strengthen Akwa United’s technical and administrative capacity as the club intensifies its efforts to secure promotion to the NPFL.
Speaking at the ceremony, Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, represented by the Commissioner for Sports, Elder Paul Bassey, reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to grassroots sports development.
The governor also noted that talented athletes in the state would continue to benefit from the reward system established by the state government to recognise and encourage sporting excellence.
In his remarks, the Director-General of the NIS, Philip Shaibu, congratulated the newly certified coaches and urged them to apply the knowledge acquired during the programme to develop sporting talents, particularly at the grassroots level.
Among the 107 graduates were six female participants, including FIFA-badged referee Mfon Akpan, Comfort Eno Williams, Glory Philip Etim, Mrs Eno Akpan, Miss Glory Loveth Wilson and teenager Uwana Uwana Udoma.
Other notable graduates included Akwa Ibom State Football Association Chairman, Samuel Umoh; General Manager of Godswill Akpabio United Football Club, Kufre Ini-ima; Solomon Edem; Etido Inyang; Cyril Orok; Samuel Ettentuk; Palm Syrup Football Club proprietor, Anthony Etim; Godswill Akpabio United team manager, Morris Silas; and Aniekan Ekpe.
The award recipients praised Governor Umo Eno for his continued support for sports development and sporting activities in the state.
