Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, has been named Nigeria’s Football-Friendly Governor of the Year 2024 at the 11th Nigeria Pitch Awards.

 Governor Eno emerged winner after securing 109 points, ahead of Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu (87 points) and former Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki (30 points). Receiving the award on behalf of the governor at the Four Points by Sheraton Hotel, Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom’s Commissioner for Sports, Elder Paul Bassey, reaffirmed the state's unwavering support for football development. “Akwa Ibom is the only state that supports four football clubs in the Nigeria league,” he said.

Bassey also highlighted Governor Eno’s contributions to the Super Eagles and Nigerian clubs that have used the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo, as their home ground for continental competitions. “Just yesterday, His Excellency mobilised all Nigerians to the Nest of Champions by picking up the cost of the 30,000-capacity stadium. The Nigeria Football Federation lauded the gesture as the stadium was filled to capacity,” he added. In another highlight of the Nigeria Pitch Awards, the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo, was named Pitch of the Year 2024 after polling 166 points. It edged out Remo Stars Stadium, Ikenne (73 points) and Onikan Stadium, Lagos (39 points). Bassey commended Governor Eno for maintaining the stadium’s world-class standard. “The maintenance culture inherited from past administrations has ensured that the stadium remains the best in Nigeria and one of the finest in the world for the past eleven years,” he said. Governor Umo Eno, who was also named ThisDay Newspaper Governor of the Year, formally received the awards today during the State Executive Council meeting at the Government House, Uyo. He reaffirmed his commitment to sports development, pledging to invest more in infrastructure and programs that will elevate Akwa Ibom’s status as a hub for sports excellence.