EX-Governor Imoke Proud as Protégé Sets Record at Sports Festival

Former Governor of Cross River State, Senator Liyel Imoke, has expressed immense pride in the exceptional performance of Patience Okon George, an athlete nurtured through his administration’s sports development programme.

Imoke, who governed the state from 2007 to 2015, said George’s achievement at the recently concluded National Sports Festival in Abeokuta, Ogun State, stands as a testament to the long-term impact of his investment in youth and sports.

In a statement shared via his verified social media account, the former governor wrote, “It gave me great joy to see a product of the 2009–2015 Cross River State sports development programme set the only record so far at the National Sports Festival—winning the women’s 400-meter race.”

He praised George as a shining example of perseverance, discipline, and continuous growth, noting that her record-breaking run was all the more remarkable due to the absence of strong competition.

“She ran her own race, maintained her pace, and confidently etched her name into the record books,” Imoke said, hailing her as a “legend in the making.”

Recent statistics indicate that Cross River State has significantly improved its performance at the National Sports Festival compared to past editions, with George’s success highlighting the state’s renewed sporting strength.