Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
At least 28 sporting events will feature in the second edition of the Abia State Governor’s Secondary Schools Unity Games (ASGSSUG), scheduled to kick off on July 29 at the Umuahia Township Stadium.
About 1,000 athletes are expected to participate in the four-day competition, which is aimed at discovering and nurturing young sporting talents across the state.
Addressing a press conference in Umuahia, the Commissioner for Sports and Youth Development, Sir Obilor Ananaba, listed football, basketball, taekwondo, volleyball, and shooting among the events to be contested.
He disclosed that champions from the 17 Local Government Areas of the state would represent their schools in the tournament.
According to the Commissioner, the annual event primarily serves as a talent hunt initiative. He revealed that some athletes discovered during the inaugural edition in 2024 had already traveled abroad to pursue careers in sports.
“Three young talents discovered last year were invited to Hungary, while another football player caught the attention of Barcelona Football Club,” Ananaba said.
He also noted that a local football coach was invited by Barcelona FC for training, with the goal of returning to help scout for more promising talents in the state.
The Commissioner added that some athletes identified during the first edition had gone on to represent Abia at the just-concluded National Sports Festival.
He emphasized the government’s commitment to youth empowerment through sports development.
“We will continue to discover athletes, nurture and project them to the world. Our aim is to revive school games in the state, identify children who show excellence, and catch them young,” he stated.
Ananaba further announced that Governor Alex Otti had approved free accommodation and lunch for all participants throughout the duration of the games.
He commended the governor for his strong support for sports development and for upgrading sports facilities across the state.
Also speaking, the state’s Director of Sports, Comrade Obioma George, said participants would be drawn from both public and private schools that emerged champions in their respective local governments.
He noted that Abia continues to contribute significantly to national sports, citing Under-15 athletes like Chinyere Okafor, a renowned table tennis prodigy representing Nigeria in Algeria.
George expressed confidence that more budding talents would emerge during this year’s edition of the games.
