The Abia state Government has reaffirmed its unwavering commitment towards leveraging sports to grow the economy of the state.
It also called on the youth to gainfully explore the vast opportunities presented by sporting activities to develop themselves and the state.
At the event to officially announced the commencement of this year’s Five-A-Side Abia Supa-Lig Football Championship held at the Fifty-1 Alliance Sports Arena Aba on Friday April 11, 2025, the state Commissioner for Sports and Youth Development, Sir Nwobialor Ananaba, also underscored the readiness of Gov Alex Otti to support and encourage the growth of sports from the grassroots to the elite level in the state.
He expressed great satisfaction with the tremendous development of sports development in the state under the present administration, despite inheriting a near comatose system in the sector.
According to Ananaba the focus of the state Government is to leverage sporting activities to grow and promote the manufacturing and merchandizing of sports equipment, and materials as well as the overall development of the economy of the state.
“Let me thank the Gov of Abia state Dr Alex Otti for his unwavering support for sports development in the state from grassroots to elite sports.
We are grateful .When we came on board he inherited a lot of rots and neglect in the sports sector but today, we have changes in various places and we can build sports economic zone in Abia state leveraging what is happening in Aba.
In Abia,we are looking at sports merchandizing, we are already making shoes and other wears in Aba which we export abroad.
So, we want to leverage that and start making sports wears, football boots, and merchandizing football trainers and other sporting equipment.
We just finished the NDDC Sports Festival in Uyo and I can confirm that our kits throughout the competition were all manufactured in Aba.
The Commissioner further informed that arrangements have been concluded to make the 1SuperLig Championship a huge success, as well as a veritable launch pad for the bigger edition.
He appreciated the organizers -Fifty-1 Alliance for their immense contribution so far to the state Government quest to grow the economy through sports.
“I believe our partners have done a fantastic job by way of highlighting sports as a business tool. Watch the space, in a couple of days you will see where we will be,” Ananaba enthused.
Earlier, in his address the Coordinator of Fifty-1 Alliance Dike Dimiri, appreciated Gov Otti for being intentional in his policy of encouraging investors to come to Abia.
According to him, the present administration’s policy thrust of engaging committed and qualified officials has greatly enhanced investor’s confidence.
He identified the sports Ministry as one place that has served as a testimonial to the administration’s commitment to excellence and performance.
This year’s edition of the Five-A-Side Superlig will be kicking off on May 7, 2025, with the prize money of N10 million for the winners and others.
“We believe that every player should be paid and every club owner should experience some reward from their investment and that is why we have put up the prize money of N10 million,” he further stated.
