•Dedicates victory to Gov Eno
In a resounding display resilience in sporting prowess, the ARISE Team from the Federal Government College, Ikot Ekpene Old Students Association has emerged champions of the Unity Schools Old Students Association (USOSA) Sports Carnival 2025 held in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
The team, which participated in 32 sporting events, from Thursday, April 24 to Sunday, April 27, 2025, outperformed 33 other teams from different states of the federation, topping the medal table with an impressive 15 medals, consisting of 8 Gold, 5 Silver, and 2 Bronze medals.
The gold medals were won in Swimming (female), Table Tennis (female), Scrabble, Snooker, Squash (male), Squash (female), Veteran race above 60yrs, and March Past, with the team emerging as the Overall Best School in March Past.
The silver medals were won in Billiards, Lawn Tennis (male and female), Volleyball (male), and Badminton (female), while the bronze medals were won in Chess and Draught.
While Match Past, Athletics, Football, Tug of War and Medal Presentation were held at the Yakubu Gowon Stadium, Ken Saro Wiwa Road, Elekehia, Port Harcourt, other sports activities held at three other Centres, including Port Harcourt Club, Forces Avenue Old GRA; Shell Club Golf Course; and Bori Camp, Port Harcourt-Aba Express Way.
The Overall Captain of the ARISE Team, Francis Adolf Fisher, expressed gratitude to supporters, stating, “We would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude and share our excitement with you that Federal Government College Ikot Ekpene Old Students Association emerged victorious in the recently concluded USOSA Sports Carnival 2025.”
Fisher appreciated the generosity of supporters, noting that their contributions played a significant role in the team’s success, enabling them to uphold the theme of ‘Unity through Sports’.
He said the events were almost completely funded by contributions from members.
Also Speaking to journalists, a Gold medalist on Snooker, Alumni Uweh Isangedighi of Federal Government College, Ikot Ekpene thanked Gov Umo Eno for inspiring them with the ARISE creed, saying the ARISE Team had dedicated the victory to the governor because of his inspiring and people oriented leadership.
Isangedighi said, “Although our state failed to come out victorious in the just concluded NDDC Sports Festivals, we were determined to bring the trophies home in order to write our names and that of our state in the good books of history.
“I want to thank our National Exco led by the National President, Nimi Walson Jack, for the painstaking effort galvanized to ensure the contingent came out tops.
“In the history of the games, no school has packed home such trophies as we did. We are grateful to God who has given us the enablement to triumph like the Eagles.”
