6 Battalion Ready to Partner Akwa Ibom Sports Ministry in Organisation of Sporting Events

The Commanding Officer of 6 Battalion, Nigerian Army, Wellington Bassey Barracks, Ibagwa, Abak Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, Lieutenant Colonel Ezekiel Yakubu Gyang, has expressed the Battalion’s readiness to collaborate with the Akwa Ibom State Ministry of Sports in the organisation of sporting events.
Lieutenant Colonel Gyang made this known when he paid a familiarisation visit to the Honourable Commissioner for Sports, Elder Paul Bassey, at his office in Uyo.
The Commanding Officer, who described the visit as an opportunity to familiarise himself with the state’s sports ecosystem, disclosed that the Battalion was planning a number of sporting activities later in the year and was interested in establishing a working relationship with the Ministry of Sports.
“Although this is an unscheduled visit, I felt it was important to come and familiarise myself with the sports ministry and understand how the state’s sports ecosystem operates. The Battalion is planning some sporting activities later in the year, and we are seeking the support and technical input of the ministry to make the events successful.”
Lieutenant Colonel Gyang commended Elder Bassey and the Ministry of Sports for what he described as the successful organisation of the 2026 Akwa Ibom State Sports Festival, noting that the competition had provided an important platform for discovering talented athletes across the 31 local government areas.
He said the talents discovered at the festival could go on to represent Akwa Ibom State and Nigeria at national and international competitions if properly nurtured.
Responding, the Commissioner for Sports, Elder Paul Bassey, thanked the Commanding Officer for the visit and commended him for the initiative to organise sporting activities for the personnel of the Battalion.
“We are delighted to receive the Commanding Officer of 6 Battalion, Nigerian Army. Sports is a powerful tool for building discipline, teamwork, unity and physical fitness, and we are particularly encouraged by the Battalion’s decision to promote sporting activities among its personnel. The Ministry of Sports will be ready and willing to provide the necessary technical support to ensure the success of these events.”
The Commissioner further assured the Commanding Officer that the Ministry would be open to exploring areas of collaboration that would strengthen sports development, talent discovery and physical fitness within the Battalion and the wider state.
The visit is expected to pave the way for stronger institutional collaboration between the Nigerian Army and the Akwa Ibom State Ministry of Sports in the area of sports development.