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Akwa Ibom State Governor, Umo Eno, has expressed his administration’s readiness to collaborate with telecommunications giant, MTN Nigeria Communications Plc, to drive tourism development in the state.
Eno made this known on Wednesday while receiving the MTN Nigeria management team, led by Chief Sales and Distribution Officer, Mr. Sida Adekunle, during a courtesy visit to the Government House, Uyo.
“We welcome you to Akwa Ibom and appreciate your decision to host the MTN Champion Sports event here from April 29 to May 3. We understand the event is primarily a talent hunt, and we are committed to promoting sports tourism in any way possible.
“We are positioning Akwa Ibom as a tourism hub within the Niger Delta, whether in sports, agriculture, culture, or medical tourism. Looking beyond oil, tourism is a natural revenue source for the state.
“God has blessed us with excellent infrastructure, and past administrations have built a robust road network. With our aviation ecosystem, Ibom Air, and other facilities, we have the capacity to attract visitors and investors with ease,” Eno said.
The governor commended MTN for hosting the championship tournament and reiterated his administration’s vision to transform the state into a leading tourism destination in the region.
Eno urged the company to remain committed to its Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives while also leveraging its social platforms to promote Akwa Ibom.
“Please continue your CSR programmes. We look forward to continued partnership and collaboration. I also encourage you to promote Akwa Ibom as much as you promote MTN so that we can strengthen our relationship,” he added.
Earlier, Adekunle lauded Eno’s leadership and commended the governor’s strides in implementing the Arise Agenda, which he said had made the state a hub for sports tourism.
He described Akwa Ibom’s security architecture as top-notch and appreciated the state government for its support.
Adekunle highlighted MTN’s corporate social investments, including support for schools, healthcare, and empowerment initiatives. He revealed that six of the 20 most valuable players selected in the first season of the MTN Chance Sports competition were from Akwa Ibom.
He solicited the government’s support for the second edition of the competition, scheduled to hold at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, and invited Eno to flag off the event on April 30, 2025.
