In a bid to promote grassroots sports and foster community unity, the Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for Sports, Elder Paul Bassey has presented sporting equipment to teams and organizers ahead of the 2025 Eket Ward 2 Urban Unity Cup football tournament.
During a presentation ceremony held Thursday morning at his office in Uyo, Elder Bassey donated five complete sets of jerseys to each of the participating teams, along with footballs and other essential equipment to the Local Organizing Committee (LOC), as preparations intensify for the tournament’s kick-off this Sunday.
Elder Bassey, an indigene of Eket Ward 2 Urban and principal sponsor of the event, emphasized the importance of the Unity Cup in projecting the ward and engaging the youth meaningfully through sports. He charged the LOC to ensure proper coordination and logistics for a smooth and hitch-free tournament.
“The Unity Cup is not just about football. It is a platform to positively engage our youths and promote unity within the community. This is part of our support for Governor Umo Eno’s human capacity development initiative under the Arise Agenda,” the Commissioner said.
The week-long tournament, scheduled to run from October 5 to October 12, 2025, will feature five teams representing the five villages of Eket Ward 2 Urban: Atabong, Idua, Ekpene Ukpa, Ukwa, and Udofa. Each team will comprise 40 players, all of whom must be card-carrying members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and registered voters.
Elder Bassey also announced a grand prize of N1,000,000 (One Million Naira) for the winning team, reiterating his commitment to youth empowerment and community development.
“As a proud son of Ward 2 Urban, I remain committed to initiatives that uplift our people and bring government closer to the grassroots through empowerment and community engagement,” he added. “I encourage all eligible voters to align with His Excellency Pastor Umo Eno’s vision and support his developmental agenda.”
Receiving the equipment on behalf of the LOC, Chairman Mr. Ubong Bassey expressed deep appreciation to the Honourable Commissioner for his support and vision.
“This tournament is a timely and impactful initiative that will benefit our youths and strengthen unity among our communities. We are grateful for the Honourable Commissioner’s commitment,” he stated.
The much-anticipated tournament will take place at the Holy Child School Field, Idua, and promises to be a vibrant showcase of local talent, teamwork, and community spirit.