By: Imo Thomas -Umuahia.
The Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti has received the National Sports Festival Torch of Peace and Unity in preparation for the 22nd National Sports Festival tagged “Gateway Games” holding at Abeokuta, Ogun State from 16th to 30th of May 2025.
Receiving the torch from the officials of the National Sports Commission, Abuja, on Tuesday,Governor Otti commended the Abia Sports team for making the State proud.
He re-emphasized that sports holds everybody together and promotes unity among Nigerians.
“It is with great pleasure that I welcome you to Abia. I must re-emphasize that there is something that holds everybody together and that is sports.
“It is one area where there is no discrimination, even if somebody is your son or your daughter, if he is not proficient in a game, you would not field him.
“I am happy to acknowledge the appreciation from my team, the Team Abia. They have always done us proud, they have even continued to do Abia better this time around and that is why it was not a problem to approve their proposal,”
He noted that handing over the torch is just formality as he has already made cash available for the team to participate in the game.
Governor Otti, promised that as many trophies as they come back with, he would appreciate and celebrate Team Abia at the sports festival, and said that the Abia athletes have done well and that the reward for good work is more work.
He thanked the leader of the team and the National Sports Commission for coming to present the torch and assured them that Abia State would be very well represented at the festival.
Handing over the torch, the leader of the torch team from the National Sports Commission, Mrs. Mbora Ikana, disclosed that the National Sports Festival was flagged off on the 25th of March, 2025 .
She said that coming to Abia with the torch serves as an invitation for Abia State to participate in the forthcoming National Sports Festival and noted that the torch signifies the unity of the country.
In a vote of Thanks, the Director of Sports, Comrade Obioma George commended Governor Otti for what he is doing in sports in Abia State and described Abia as a sporting destination.
He told the delegation to tell the National Sports Commission that Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, is the only Governor that has directed that sports should go back to secondary schools. In Abia State, last year, we did a wonderful secondary school games and this year, we are doing it again.
He disclosed that they have packaged a team of 339 athletes and are going to the competition with only 25 sports out of the 40 sports approved by the National Sport Commission.