The Abia State Government has flagged off the first edition of the Abia State South-East Open Weightlifting Championship and unveiled new equipment for the sport.
The championship, which attracted young weightlifters, coaches, technical officials, sports administrators and other stakeholders from across the South-East, was flagged off at the Umuahia Township Stadium Indoor Sports Hall.
Speaking at the flag-off ceremony, Governor Alex Otti, represented by the commissioner for youth and sports development, Ananaba Nwaobilor, welcomed the participants, saying the championship marked an important milestone in the development of sports in the state and the South-East.
He said the event was not merely a sporting competition but a deliberate investment in young people and an avenue to identify talents capable of representing Abia, the South-East and Nigeria at major competitions.
According to him, weightlifting requires discipline, strength, courage, determination and mental resilience, adding that these qualities were also essential in developing responsible and productive young people.
“Every successful lift is the product of preparation, sacrifice, consistency, and self-belief. These are the same qualities we want to develop in our young people,” he said.
The Commissioner noted that the state government’s approach to sports development went beyond winning medals and trophies, stressing that sports could also serve as a tool for talent discovery, character development, empowerment and opportunity creation.
“As a ministry, we believe that sports is not only about medals and trophies. Sports is about discovering potentials, developing character, creating opportunities, and empowering our young people to become productive citizens and future leaders,” Nwaobilor stated.
He said the administration of Governor Alex Otti remained committed to initiatives that would provide structured opportunities for young people to participate in sports and develop their talents.
Nwaobilor explained that the state was determined to establish a clear pathway for talented athletes, from talent discovery through training and competition to excellence and opportunities at the national and international levels.
“We are determined to ensure that talented young people do not merely have talent. They must have a pathway , the pathway from discovery to training, from training to competition, from competition to excellence, and from excellence to opportunity at the national and international levels,” he said.
He encouraged the athletes participating in the championship to compete with courage and determination, respect the rules, their opponents and coaches, while urging them not to allow setbacks to discourage them.
“Do not be discouraged by failure in lifting as in life. Sometimes you attempt to lift and it does not go as planned. What matters is what you learn, adjust, train harder and come back stronger,” he said.
The Commissioner commended the coaches and technical officials for their dedication to developing athletes, noting that building successful athletes required patience, discipline and commitment.
He also appreciated the Weightlifting Association of the South-East Zone and the organisers of the championship for choosing Abia as the host of the inaugural edition.
Nwaobilor expressed the hope that the championship would not only produce champions but also promote friendship, collaboration and unity among athletes and sports stakeholders across the South-East.
“Today, we are not simply opening a weightlifting championship. We are opening a door for opportunity; a door through which a young athlete can discover a talent that changes the course of his or her life,” he said.
He further expressed optimism that the competition could produce athletes who would eventually compete successfully at African, Commonwealth, world and Olympic levels.
“Perhaps one day, the next African champion, the next Commonwealth champion, the world champion, an Olympic medalist. That is the vision. That is the opportunity, and that is why we continue to invest in our young people,” Nwaobilor added.
Also speaking at the flag-off, the National Chairman of the Weightlifting Federation, Emmanuel Oshoman, commended Abia for hosting the championship and expressed satisfaction with the young age of the participating athletes.
Oshoman emphasised the importance of identifying and developing athletes early in their careers, noting that starting young could help athletes build longer and more sustainable sporting careers.
“I am happy that almost all your lifters are very, very young, and in sports, if you start early, you stay young. But when you start late, you stay short, or you stay very brief before you start to have injuries,” he said.
He also acknowledged the contributions of the Abia State coaches, secretariat and other officials towards the development of weightlifting in the state.
The South-East Zonal Coordinator, Bernard Ezema, described the flag-off as an important opportunity to identify emerging talents, saying the athletes had demonstrated determination and promising performances.
Ezema said the championship was about more than lifting weights, stressing that it provided an avenue to discover the potential of young athletes and begin their journey towards competitive excellence.
“Today is not only lifting weight, but we have seen the zeal and determination and excellent performances in the athletes. And that’s what represents sports “the determination,” he said.
He commended the Abia State Government for creating what he described as a conducive environment for young people to participate actively in sports and contribute to the development of the state.
Ezema also praised the structure and administration of sports in Abia, saying the state had continued to demonstrate strong commitment to sporting development in the South-East.
“I’ve already stated that Abia State remains the seat, the standard of sports achievement in the South-East. And they will continue because they have a structure,” he said.
He further commended the Commissioner for Sports and Youth Development and his team for their efforts towards advancing sports in the state.
Ezema also highlighted the scholarship presented to a young athlete during the event, describing it as one of the tangible outcomes of the talent-discovery initiative.
“The young man that has just been given a scholarship, it is one of those discoveries we are making in this championship. It is not for play. It is something of reality,” he said.
He urged other zonal representatives to remain proactive in identifying and supporting promising athletes, stressing that their responsibility extended beyond attending competitions to producing measurable results.
Also speaking, the member representing Southeast, at the National Weightlifting Federation, Chief Luke Ibe noted that Abia athletes used to go to Imo state to do their training because of lack of equipment and commended Governor Otti for procuring weightlifting equipment for Abia State.
“They (Abia athletes) always come from here, use their motor to come there and train. But now, the reverse is the case. Abia has already taken a break here. With this type of equipment, it is worth millions.
