One year after his appointment as Commissioner for Sports in Akwa Ibom State, veteran sports journalist and football administrator, Elder Paul Bassey is being credited with steering a notable revival of the state’s sporting sector through a series of reforms, competitions and infrastructure projects.
 
Bassey, a former CAF official, was nominated by Governor Umo Eno and confirmed by the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly before assuming office on February 24, 2025.
 
His appointment was widely welcomed within sports circles, particularly as he became the pioneer commissioner of the newly separated sports ministry after it was carved out from the former Ministry of Youth Development and Sports.
 
Twelve months later, the ministry’s activities have ranged from grassroots competitions to facility upgrades and athlete welfare initiatives.
 
One of the early highlights of Bassey’s tenure was the successful hosting of the maiden edition of the Niger Delta Games in 2025.
 
Akwa Ibom secured the rights to stage the inaugural tournament and the commissioner played a visible role in preparations, overseeing facility upgrades, strategy meetings and logistics that led to what organisers described as a historic first edition.
 
Following the event, the ministry set up a review committee to assess Team Akwa Ibom’s performance and identify areas for improvement in future competitions.
 
The Commissioner also revived the Akwa Ibom Sports Festival, a grassroots programme that had been dormant for seven years.
 
The competition returned in the last quarter of 2025 and served as a major platform for talent discovery, with several emerging athletes already beginning to make an impact within and beyond the state.
 
Athlete motivation also received attention under Bassey’s leadership.
 
Medalists from Akwa Ibom at the National Youth Games were rewarded on their return, a move aimed at boosting morale and demonstrating the government’s commitment to athletes’ welfare.
 
Infrastructure development has also been part of the ministry’s agenda.
 
In January 2026, the new ‘Ibom Gym’ facility was officially opened at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo.
 
The gym is expected to enhance athletes’ training and conditioning programmes across multiple sports. At the same time, the ministry unveiled a large batch of sports equipment distributed to more than 40 sports associations in the state, covering disciplines such as basketball, volleyball, tennis, athletics, judo, taekwondo and boxing.
 
Bassey credited Governor Eno for releasing funds for the project, noting that several of the items were sourced from international manufacturers to meet top standards.
 
On the competitive front, Team Akwa Ibom showed improvement at the second edition of the Niger Delta Games, finishing fourth overall with a total of 55 medals, made up of 16 gold, 17 silver and 22 bronze, behind traditional powerhouses, Edo, Delta, and Bayelsa State.
 
Administrative capacity has also been strengthened, with the ministry organising a three-day in-house training programme for its staff to improve service delivery.
 
The initiative drew commendation from the state’s Head of Service, Mrs. Elsie Anietie Peters.
 
Another notable development was the partnership between Akwa United F.C. and Ibom Air, which now provides the club with improved travel logistics for away matches while boosting fan engagement and operational support.
 
With additional projects in the pipeline, including planned sports facilities at the ARISE Resort and renewed attention to the Ibom Sports Academy, the first year of Bassey’s tenure has laid the groundwork for further development of sports in Akwa Ibom.