The maiden edition of the South-East Weightlifting Championship has kicked off in Umuahia, with the unveiling of the modern Weightifting equipment procured for the Sports Council by Governor Alex Otti.
Declaring open the competition which has the athletes already in high spirit, on Thursday, September 24, 2026, the Abia State Governor, Dr Alex Otti said the championship was not simply about medals and trophies but about discovering talents and giving young athletes a pathway to bigger opportunities.
The Governor, represented by the Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Sir Nwaobilor Ananaba said weightlifting teaches discipline, courage, determination and mental strength, adding that these qualities were equally important in preparing young people for life beyond sports.
“This championship is more than a sports competition; it is a deliberate investment in our young people, an opportunity to discover new talents and a platform to nurture athletes who can represent Abia State in the South-East, in Nigeria and at international competitions,” Gov. Otti stated.
Governor Otti, who described the competition as a platform for discovering and nurturing young talents for national and international competitions, noted that weightlifting requires discipline, strength, courage, determination and mental resilience, adding that these qualities were also essential in developing responsible and productive young people.
The Governor appreciated Chief Luke Ibe,
the former weightlifting athlete, who retired in 2016 and subsequently transitioned into coaching, for his humanitarian gesture towards the athletes and for promising to sponsor, one of the leading weightlifter,
in Abia, Divine Samuel, academically and through his athletic career journey.
He urged the athletes to always give their best, respect the rules and their opponents, while encouraging those who fail in an attempt not to give up but return stronger.
Also speaking, the South-East Zonal Coordinator, Hon. Bernard Ezemma, said the championship, was designed to strengthen collaboration among weightlifting stakeholders in the South-East while creating a regular platform where young athletes could compete, gain experience and be identified for an elite competitions.
He said that it is important in ensuring that athletes from the different states of the South-East have opportunities to compete beyond their states of origin and build the experience required for national and international competitions.
Earlier, Chairman, National Weightlifting Referees Committee, Chief Luke Ibe, expressed satisfaction with the performances of the athletes so far and stated that the championship had already shown that the South-East had promising talents.
Chief Ibe, while why expressing the determination and confidence displayed by the athletes, commended Governor Otti profoundly for his commitment to excellence in sports development and for providing modern equipment for weightlifting in the state.
“Today is not only lifting weights, but we have seen the zeal, determination and excellent performances in the athletes. And that’s what represents sports.
“I don’t know how to thank him (Gov. Otti). I don’t know whether I will put my head down or raise my hands up to thank him.
“The man is a wonderful man for our South East. I don’t know who will say that the man will not go again (reelected). I thank the Commissioner of Sports. He is doing fine. And my own brother, the Director of Sports,” Chief Ibe stated.
In his speech, the Director of Sports, Abia State Sports Council, Comrade Obioma George, described weightlifting as one of the sports where Abia has strong potential.
Comrade George expressed his heartfelt appreciation to Governor Otti and the Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development for their commitment to sports development and the opportunities being created for young people.
“I want to thank the Governor of Abia State, Dr Alex Otti, for the complete turnaround of sports, for making the youth of Abia State to have interest in sports, for all his support and contributions in sports development in Abia.
” Sincerely speaking, my heart is full of joy today. That Abia is hosting the Southeast in the maiden edition of the Southeast Weightlifting Championship. Sincerely, what we are seeing today is sports, mouth cannot say it all.
“That is why the whole state sports family is thanking the Governor of Abia State, Dr. Alex Chioma Otti, for all his support and encouragement for sports development in the State.
“Today, they have been able to procure sophisticated equipment that run into millions to revive the State’s weightlifting units. I give glory to God.
“In the last National Sports Festival, they (Abia athletes) did excellently well. And with this equipment on ground, our coaches are going back to duty to right the wrongs so that Abia will return where they belong in the ranking of Weightlifting in Nigeria,” Comrade George stated.
In the same vein, the Secretary, Weighlifting Association Abia State, Lady Rosemond Ogbonna, who was full of praises to the Governor over the hosting of the competition and the procurement of equipment described the moment as most happy moment of her career.
“I can say that I’m the most happiest person today. for this thing happening in my tenure as the secretary. First of all, let me thank our Governor, Dr. Alex Chioma Otti, OFR and the Commissioner of Sports, the Director of Sports and the management our agile Sports Council.
“I have never seen this kind of event before. This is the first time we can see all these things (equipment). Because of this thing that happened today(unveiling of weight lifting equipment), I can believe that with all these equipment, we bought, there would be more improvements.
“And I promise that the coaches will put more effort to make sure that every time we move out for competitions, we will make it by getting the medals,” she stated.
The event brought together the state government officials, Weightlifting Associations, state sports councils, coaches, technical officials and athletes.
