On October 18, 2025, under a radiant Umuahia sky, the cheers of young athletes and the pride of a region filled the air as the 5th edition of the CLIMM Under-16 Athletics Championship came to a thrilling close at the Umuahia Township Stadium. By the end of the two-day contest, Abia State had once again stamped its authority on the regional athletics scene, clinching the overall championship title with an impressive 27 medals: 10 gold, 10 silver, and 7 bronze.
In an interesting twist, Abia and Anambra swapped positions from last year’s edition, with Anambra, last year’s champions, now finishing second. The spirited Anambra team earned 7 gold, 9 silver, and 7 bronze medals, while Enugu secured third place with 2 gold, 3 silver, and 1 bronze. Imo followed closely in fourth with 2 gold, 2 silver, and 7 bronze medals.
More than a competition, the CLIMM Championship has evolved into a celebration of youthful resilience and regional pride. Sponsored by a group of Abia’s distinguished ex-international athletes — Clement Chukwu (USA), Lee Okorafor (UK), Innocent Ihieme (UK), MBA Udoma (Australia), and Michael Ukaha (Germany) — the initiative continues to reward excellence with gifts and cash prizes while rekindling the spirit of grassroots sports development across the South East.
At its core, the championship reflects a quiet revolution happening in Abia State. Since the emergence of His Excellency Dr Alex Chioma Otti as governor, Abia has steadily become a beacon of sporting excellence in Nigeria’s South East, nurturing young talents, investing in sports infrastructure, and redefining what it means to build champions from the grassroots up.
In the faces of the jubilant young athletes who sprinted, leapt, and threw their way into history, one could glimpse the brighter future that Abia is building, where sports are not just games, but a pathway to purpose, unity, and pride.
