Umoafia Attributes Commonwealth Games Gold Medal Win To Gov. Eno’s Support, Sports Development

Commonwealth Games weightlifting gold medalist Edidiong Umoafia has expressed profound appreciation to the Executive Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Pastor Umo Eno, for his unwavering support and encouragement to him and other athletes from the state.
Umoafia said his remarkable achievement at the ongoing Commonwealth Games in Scotland, would not have been possible without the governor’s commitment to sports development and the welfare of athletes.
The men’s 71kg champion conveyed his gratitude during a telephone conversation from Glasgow with the Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for Sports, Elder Paul Bassey, who called on behalf of His Excellency the governor to congratulate him on making both the state and Nigeria proud.
It would be recalled that during the State Executive Council meeting on Monday, His Excellency the governor on hearing the news of the Gold medal won by Edidiong Umoafia and Silver medal won by Ruth Nyong expressed satisfaction with their success and commended for making the state proud.
Umoafia who set a new Commonwealth Games record with a combined lift of 319kg after opening with a 147kg snatch and matching the field’s best with a 172kg clean and jerk said he was overwhelmed with joy after receiving a congratulatory message from Governor Umo Eno following his gold medal victory on Monday, which was announced during the State Executive Council meeting. He attributed his success to the consistent investment of the Akwa Ibom State Government in sports development.
“It’s heartwarming to receive a congratulatory message from my Governor after my victory on Monday. Winning the gold medal at the Commonwealth Games is one of the greatest moments of my life. I sincerely appreciate His Excellency’s support and encouragement, and I thank him for everything he has done for athletes in the state and for the growth and development of sports.
“The Governor’s message is a great source of motivation for me, for all athletes from Akwa Ibom, and indeed for Team Nigeria as we continue to strive for more medals. I am here today because our state government has invested in sports development, and I am a direct beneficiary.
“I also want to commend the Honourable Commissioner for Sports, Elder Paul Bassey, for always standing by me and every athlete in the state. I equally thank my family, coaches, friends, and fans for their unwavering love, prayers, and support.”
Umoafia has continued to establish himself as one of Nigeria’s finest weightlifters. He won bronze in the men’s 67kg category at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, claimed another bronze in the men’s 73kg event at the 2023 African Weightlifting Championships in Tunis, and secured a silver medal in the men’s 71kg category at the African Senior Weightlifting Championships in Ismailia earlier this year.
Following his Commonwealth Games triumph, the champion has now shifted his focus to the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, California, where he hopes to achieve even greater success for Nigeria.