Itu local government area has completed a historic clean sweep of all four gold medals on offer at the 2026 Akwa Ibom State Sports Festival, which comes to an end this Sunday in Uyo.
Sports247 gathered that Itu LGA again proved why it is the home of rugby in the state by winning all the categories contested in a dominant display at Qua Iboe Church Primary School Grounds, Uyo.
Itu LGA won gold in senior boys, junior boys, senior girls and junior girls, while also maintaining their spot as overall champions of the festival with a total of 106 medals that was achieved in 2025.
While Itu LGA showed class, depth and grassroots preparation, Ini LGA also put up a spirited performance to emerge runner-up in rugby with one bronze and three silver, as Mbo and Ibeno LGAs completed the standings.
The full results for rugby are: Senior Boys: Itu (Gold), Mbo (Silver), Ini (Bronze); Junior Boys: Itu (Gold), Ini (Silver), Mbo (Bronze), Ibeno (4th); Senior Girls: Itu (Gold), Ini (Silver); Junior Girls: Itu (Gold), Ini (Silver), Ibeno (4th).
The rugby event was contested by four LGAs – Ibeno, Ini, Itu and Mbo – at Qua Iboe Primary School, which had also been used for demonstration of the sport during the first Niger Delta Games hosted by Akwa Ibom State in 2025.
This cements the school’s role as the cradle of rugby and cricket in Akwa Ibom State, which has also won some laurels in the event, including a bronze medal at Edo 2020 National Sports Festival.
It also won another bronze medal at the 2023 National Youth Games in Asaba, Delta State amongst other achievements through the efforts of Coach Archibong Dominic and technical assistance from Obong Ntiense Williams (Mr Rugby), who is an Akwa Ibom indigene.
Williams disclosed, “The 2026 Akwa Ibom State Sports Festival, now in its second edition under the ARISE Agenda of Governor Umo Eno, opened on Tuesday, September 22nd at Uyo Township Stadium. It was declared open by Deputy Governor Senator Akon Eyakenyi on behalf of Governor Eno.
“Thirty-one Local Government Areas are participating in over 20 sports, running from September 22-27, 2026. The Festival is the cornerstone of the Governor’s grassroots sports development strategy for talent discovery, youth empowerment and job creation.
“Governor Eno has already demonstrated commitment to this vision by offering automatic employment to three Commonwealth Games medalists – Edidiong Umoafia, Ruth Nyong and Enku Ekuta – who were products of the 2025 edition.
“Other highlights of the 2026 Games include the debut of a newly procured Olympic-standard boxing ring and the successful Unity Torch relay across all 31 LGAs.
“The government has also announced plans to revive inter-house sports in schools and accelerate work on the State Sports Academy in Eket as a legacy facility for talents discovered from the Festival.
“First gold of the festival was won by Esther Okon Peter of Nsit Ibom LGA for women’s 400m in 53.12s at Godswill Akpabio Stadium; while silver went to Odotudo Effiong (Itu) and bronze to Unwana Udoh (Uruan).
“In rugby, Itu LGA led with four gold (Senior Boys, Junior Boys, Senior Girls, Junior Girls), while Ini LGA are second with three silver and one bronze as Mbo place third with one silver and one bronze.”
