Three staff members of Akwa United Football Club are among the 107 coaches who have been awarded certificates by the National Institute for Sports (NIS) following the successful completion of an eight-week intensive Executive Coaching Certificate Programme in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.
In a statement issued to sports Journalists in Uyo by Mfon Patrick said
“The newly certified coaches are the club’s former captain, Otobong Effiong; goalkeeper coach, Bassey Akpan; and kits manager, Akparawa Isaiah Ibanga popularly known as “Commissioner.”
Duriing the graduation ceremony held at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo, on Wednesday, October 28, 2026,Patric’'s statement added wa “a total of 107 participants who successfully completed the theoretical and practical components of the programme received their Basic certificates in sports coaching.”
Effiong, who currently serves as Akwa United’s Camp Commandant, played for the Promise Keepers from 2008 to 2023. During his time with the club, he captained the team to three national titles (FA Cup 2015, FA Cup 2017 and NPFL 2021) and remains its most successful captain.
Akpan, the club’s goalkeeper coach, is a former international who represented Nigeria at various levels. He also won the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) title with three different clubs (Enyimba 2001/2002, Bayelsa United 2009/2010 and Akwa United 2021/2022) during his playing career.
Meanwhile, Akparawa Isaiah Ibanga, who graduated with distinction, is Akwa United’s kits manager and an experienced member of the club’s backroom staff, with considerable experience in kits management.
The acquisition of the coaching certificates by the three staff members is expected to further strengthen Akwa United’s technical and administrative capacity as the club intensifies its quest for promotion to the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL).
Speaking at the ceremony, Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, represented by the Commissioner for Sports, Elder Paul Bassey, reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to grassroots sports development.
The governor also noted that talented athletes in the state would continue to benefit from the reward system established by the state government to recognise and encourage sporting excellence.
In his remarks, the Director-General of the NIS, Philip Shaibu, congratulated the newly certified coaches and charged them to apply the knowledge acquired during the programme to develop sporting talents, particularly at the grassroots level.
Among the 107 graduates were six female participants, including FIFA-badged referee Mfon Akpan, Comfort Eno Williams, Glory Philip Etim, Mrs Eno Akpan, Miss Glory Loveth Wilson and teenager Uwana Uwana Udoma.
Other notable graduates included Akwa Ibom State Football Association Chairman, Samuel Umoh; General Manager of Godswill Akpabio United Football Club, Kufre Ini-ima; Solomon Edem; Etido Inyang; Cyril Orok; Samuel Ettentuk; the proprietor of Palm Syrup Football Club Mr. Anthony Etim, the team manager of Godswill Akpabio United Mr. Morris Silas, Mr Aniekan Ekpe among others.
The awardess praised governor Umo Eno for untiring support in sporting activities in the state
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