Akwa Ibom Sports Festival: Itu Retain Crown With 61 Gold Medals

• Itu retain overall championship with 110 medals, including 61 gold

• 31 LGAs compete in six-day 2026 State Sports Festival

• Executive Chairman Ubong Nkutt commended for supporting victorious contingent

September 29, () – Itu Local Government Area has successfully defended its title as overall champion of the 2026 Akwa Ibom State Sports Festival, finishing the six-day competition with an impressive haul of 110 medals, including 61 gold, 33 silver and 16 bronze.

The victory was confirmed on Monday at the grand finale of the festival held at the Uyo Township Stadium, where the Secretary to the Akwa Ibom State Government, Prince Enobong Uwah, who represented Governor Umo Eno, presented the championship trophy to the Itu contingent.

The result means Itu has retained the crown it won at the 2025 edition, emerging champion in both editions of the revived Akwa Ibom State Sports Festival.

Presenting the trophy, Uwah conveyed the Governor’s commendation to the Itu athletes, praising their performance, discipline and competitive spirit throughout the tournament.

The Secretary to the State Government described the feat as a demonstration of commitment and sporting excellence, while encouraging the athletes to sustain their performance and continue to represent the local government and the state with distinction.

The victorious contingent competed across several sporting disciplines, including athletics, rugby, boxing, weightlifting, football and volleyball.

The performance was also attributed to the coordination and support provided by the Executive Chairman of Itu Local Government Council, Hon. Ubong Nkutt, whose administration backed the contingent throughout the competition.

Speaking on the achievement, Nkutt congratulated the athletes and technical team for their determination and resilience, saying the victory demonstrated what could be achieved when young people were given the necessary support and encouragement.

“This victory belongs first to our athletes, coaches and everyone who contributed to the success of Team Itu. Their discipline, hard work and determination have once again brought honour to Itu Local Government. We are proud of them, and our administration will continue to support sports development and create opportunities for our young people to discover and develop their talents”, Nkutt said.

The 2026 Akwa Ibom State Sports Festival commenced on Tuesday, September 22, with athletes from the 31 local government areas competing in various sporting disciplines over six days.

The festival culminated in the grand finale at the Uyo Township Stadium on Sunday, with Itu emerging as the overall champion after dominating the medal table.

The back-to-back victory further establishes Itu as the dominant contingent in the revived state sports festival.