Three members of Akwa United Football Club have been awarded certificates by the National Institute for Sports (NIS) after successfully completing an eight-week intensive Executive Coaching Certificate Programme in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.

The newly certified coaches are former Akwa United captain Otobong Effiong, goalkeeper coach Bassey Akpan, and kits manager Akparawa Isaiah Ibanga, popularly known as “Commissioner.”

The trio were among 107 participants who received Basic certificates in sports coaching at a graduation ceremony held at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo, on Wednesday, October 28, 2026, after completing the theoretical and practical components of the programme.

Effiong, who currently serves as Akwa United’s Camp Commandant, played for the Promise Keepers from 2008 to 2023. During his time at the club, he captained the team to three major national titles: the FA Cup in 2015 and 2017, and the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) title in 2021. He remains the club’s most successful captain.

Akpan, meanwhile, is a former international who represented Nigeria at various levels before taking up his current role as the club’s goalkeeper coach. During his playing career, he won the NPFL title with three different clubs: Enyimba in 2001/2002, Bayelsa United in 2009/2010, and Akwa United in 2021/2022.

Ibanga, who graduated with distinction, is an experienced member of Akwa United’s backroom staff and has considerable expertise in kits management.

The acquisition of the coaching certificates by the three staff members is expected to strengthen Akwa United’s technical and administrative capacity as the club intensifies its bid for promotion to the NPFL.

At the graduation 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 stated that talented athletes in the state would continue to benefit from the government’s reward system, which recognises and encourages sporting excellence.

NIS Director-General Philip Shaibu congratulated the graduates and urged them to apply the knowledge acquired during the programme to the development of sporting talents, particularly at the grassroots level.

Among the 107 graduates were six female participants: 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; Palm Syrup Football Club proprietor Anthony Etim; Godswill Akpabio United team manager Morris Silas; and Aniekan Ekpe, among others.

The graduation marks another step in efforts to improve coaching capacity and strengthen grassroots sports development in Akwa Ibom State.