NAPPS Targets 50 Schools, 3,000 Athletes for Ebonyi Unity Games

By Uchenna Okeh Abakaliki 

The National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS), Abakaliki Chapter, has unveiled plans to host 50 schools and about 3,000 student-athletes at the maiden edition of the Abakaliki Unity Games and Schools Sports Championship, an initiative aimed at promoting grassroots sports development and discovering young talents across Ebonyi State.

The association also disclosed that no fewer than 10,000 parents and spectators, over 500 teachers and coaches, government officials, corporate organization, media houses, sports scouts and international partners are expected to participate in the sporting festival.

Speaking at a press conference in Abakaliki, Chairman of the NAPPS Abakaliki Unity Games and Schools Sports Championship, Mr. Peter Osisikankwu, said the event would officially commence on September 19, 2026, with regional competitions scheduled to run from September to October, while the grand finale will take place on October 12, 2026.

Osisikankwu said the championship was conceived to position Ebonyi State as Nigeria’s leading hub for grassroots sports development by nurturing young talents and creating pathways for students to excel at national and international levels.

According to him, the mission is to provide student-athletes with a professionally organized sporting platform that promotes discipline, leadership, teamwork, healthy competition and equal opportunities, while identifying exceptional talents capable of representing Ebonyi State, Nigeria and Africa on the global stage.

He said the theme of the 2026 edition, “Uniting Schools • Discovering Champions • Building the Future,” reflects the organizers’ commitment to using sports as a tool for unity, youth empowerment and talent development.

“The Abakaliki Unity Games and Inter-School Sports Championship is more than a competition. It is a youth empowerment initiative designed to transform grassroots sports into a pathway for educational advancement, professional careers and economic opportunities,” he said.

Osisikankwu noted that many talented children across Nigeria are denied opportunities to showcase their abilities, adding that the championship would provide a platform for identifying gifted athletes in football, athletics, basketball, volleyball and other sporting events.

He explained that the competition also seeks to promote discipline, resilience, leadership and teamwork among students, improve academic performance and school attendance through sports, and create opportunities for scholarships, exchange programmers and international tournaments.

He added that the initiative is expected to boost sports tourism, youth employment and investment, while strengthening Ebonyi State’s reputation as a destination for grassroots sports excellence.

The NAPPS chairman appealed to corporate organization and development partners to support the championship, assuring sponsors of premium brand visibility before, during and after the event through extensive publicity and community engagement programmers.