BY SOLOMON OKPO
Two athletes from Akwa Ibom State have secured places in Team Nigeria’s squad for the 2026 African Senior Weightlifting Championships, scheduled to hold in Ismailia, Egypt from May 10 to 17.
The athletes, Edidiong Umoafia and Ruth Nyong, will represent Nigeria in the men’s 71kg and women’s 48kg categories respectively. Umoafia is a bronze medalist at the 2022 Commonwealth Games, while Nyong clinched silver at the 2025 Commonwealth Weightlifting Championships.
Both lifters, widely regarded among the country’s top performers, have consistently represented Akwa Ibom State in national competitions. They are expected to not only improve on their previous achievements but also push for qualification for the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland, slated for July 23 to August 3.
The African Championships will serve as a key qualifying tournament for the Glasgow Games, placing added significance on the athletes’ participation.
Reacting to the development, the Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for Sports, Paul Bassey, congratulated the athletes and charged them to uphold the state’s reputation.
He described their selection as a source of pride, noting that it underscores the impact of ongoing investment in sports development by the state government under Umo Eno.
Bassey also congratulated Lawrence Iquaibom, Vice President of the Nigeria Weightlifting Federation, on his appointment as a technical official for the championship.
He added that the combined presence of both athletes and an official from Akwa Ibom at the continental event reflects the state’s growing influence in weightlifting, with assurances of sustained government support.
