The Akwa Ibom State Government has solicited a partnership with Mobile Telecommunications Network (MTN) Nigeria Plc to make the state a tourism hub in the South-South region of the country.
Governor Umo Eno stated this while exchanging views with Olusina Adegoke, the Chief Sales and Distribution Officer of the company, who led the management of MTN Nigeria to visit him in Uyo, the state capital.
Eno lauded the company’s initiative of hosting the MTN Championship Sports tournament scheduled between 29th April and 3rd May in the state and reiterated his administration’s resolve to transform Akwa Ibom into a tourism hub within the Niger Delta region, assuring of the necessary infrastructure to facilitate the realisation of the vision.
“We would like to welcome you to Akwa Ibom. Thank you for planning to host the MTN Champion Sports event here from the 29th to the 3rd of May this year.
“We understand that the event is basically a talent hunt, so in whatever way we can promote sports tourism, we will do that.
“We are trying to make Akwa Ibom a hub for tourism within the Niger Delta. So whether it is sports, agricultural, cultural or medical tourism, we are trying our best.
“If we must begin to effectively look at the state beyond oil, another source of revenue is tourism, which comes naturally.
“God has blessed us with good infrastructure, and from our past leaders, we have developed a good road network across the state; our aviation ecosystem is there, we have Ibom Air, and we have what it takes to bring people in and out of Akwa Ibom with ease,” he stated.
The governor, therefore, urged the management of MTN to remain steadfast in its commitments to its corporate social responsibilities while also working to promote the state policies through its social media platform, explaining that this will help strengthen the relationship between MTN and the state.
“Please continue with all of the CSR programmes that you do. We would like to continue to partner and work with you. I also like you to help promote Akwa Ibom the way you promote MTN itself so that we can continue to build a stronger relationship.”
Earlier, the leader of the delegation, Sida Adekuke, commended Governor Eno for his pragmatic leadership, saying that he has showcased a workable strategy in the implementation of the Arise Agenda, which has transformed the state into a hospitable hub for sports tourism.
He acknowledged the state security architecture, describing the inherent peace and serenity in the state as top-notch, and thanked him for the effective collaboration the company has enjoyed from the state administration.
The MTN sales manager enumerated the company’s corporate social investments as including support to schools, health and several empowerment programmes for Akwa Ibom citizens and intimated to the governor about the second season of the MTN Chance sports competition, explaining that six out of the 20 most valuable selected players are indigenes of the state.
Adekuke solicited the state government’s support for the event scheduled to be held at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium (The Nest of Champions) and invited the governor to flag off the event on the 30th of April, 2025.
