CHEERLEADERS :Journey Of A Thousand Miles

It’s yet another memorable day for the Akwa Ibomites as we recap our minds back to November 7th, 2014’s ceremony. The then president of Nigeria, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan,GCFR, in company of the president of Ghana, John Dramani Mahama and the Ivorian Head of State, Dr. Alassane Ouattra, commissioned the prestigious Godswill Akpabio’s International Stadium (formerly known as Ibom International Stadium) in the presence of special dignitaries within and outside the country.

This grand ceremony was hosted by the then Governor of Akwa Ibom State, the very one whose great ideas and innovative mind had birthed the gathering, our own Senator Godswill Obot Akpabio .

Adding colour to the event was the performances by various artists in Nigeria including Mish, the Mavins Crew, Kcee, the Akwa Ibom Entertainers Forum etc. Unknown to the audience, all that was just a tip of the iceberg, as the Ibom Cheerleaders were yet to stun them with their outrageous performance.

It was the first time the Ibom Cheerleaders performed during an official function, the people were amazed at the grounds breaking performance of the cheerleaders and there were lots of ululations from the crowd.

This beautiful performance did not only bring publicity to us, it also created a pathway through which we moved to another level, as we were being invited to cheer for the Super Eagles during their games against South Africa.

As a give back to the society that accepted and supported us, the Ibom Cheerleaders group organised their end of year party which held at Four Lane by Water Fountain. It encapsulated various competitive performances by the Cheerleaders and the masses.

It ended with a lot of smiles and laughter as everyone went home fulfilled with their gifts and success being the watchword, we never relented as we made a progression into the New Year, 2015, with the vision being high, on January/February, the cheerleaders joined other dignitaries to receive the former president and his wife on an official visit to the state.

The month of March was not left out as there came another great opportunity to support and cheer Nigeria’s game against Uganda, a game which marked Vincent Enyeama as the most capped player in Nigeria’s football history.
Thereafter, we did something out of our innovative minds again, the Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign Programme.
On 1st May 2015, we launched our Breast Cancer Awareness Programme at the Uyo Township Stadium.

This outstanding programme, brought us a step forward because as a result of it, we were given recognition and support by the then Governor of the state, Senator Godswill Akpabio.
It is said that success comes as a result of hard work , through our hard work, perseverance and commitment, our success story continued.

In June, we cheered the Super Eagles game against chad for AFCON qualifiers preparatory match in kaduna. That was our first out of state function and it did create a bridge for us to cross over to another phase as with the help of the Ministry of Youth and Sports and the NFF, the cheerleaders were among the contingents that travelled to Tanzania for the AFCON Qualifiers game 2017 to cheer the Super Eagles.

Furthermore, the Cheerleaders were not left out at state functions. We as usual were there to add colour to the Akwa Ibom DAKKADA programme organised by our Dear Governor, Mr. Udom Gabriel Emmanuel. This event marked the twenty eighth year anniversary of Akwa Ibom held on the 23rd of September, 2015, at the Godswill Akpabio International stadium. On the first of October, 2015, we also joined the state in celebrating the 55th anniversary of Nigeria’s Independence which was celebrated in a grand style at the Uyo Township Stadium.
Within the same month, we were in Port Harcourt to cheer Super Eagles against Burkina Faso (CHAN Qualifiers Match).
The Breast Cancer Awareness Programme for the month of October was the next exuberant event.

The Cheerleaders Nigeria took it up on them to educate people about this disease. It all ended in a grand style as the outcome was the international recognition the Cheerleaders gained through the campaign. This was carried by the media and documented in the Ink Newspaper. The programme was also aired live on DSTV.

It is worthy of note that the cheerleaders Nigeria have supported and cheered the Akwa United football team to victory in almost all their matches especially the home games. Also, since cheerleading is a sport, the team is working hand in hand with the Ministry of Youth and Sports, Akwa Ibom State to take sports to the next level.

Creative and resourceful as the Ibom Cheerleaders always are, they had dived beyond just cheering for football games into gymnastics which can be considered to be an unturned stone in our dear state. At the moment, we are still undergoing some gymnastics training and we hope to achieve our goal as we will be embarking on a trip to Abuja for a gymnastics course which would help us compete with the outer world.

Nobody ever achieves in life or gets to the peak without encountering challenges and difficulties. Therefore just as we have breakthroughs, we also have had so many challenges. It has not been a bed of roses for the cheerleaders Nigeria to grow to the stage they are today. There have been criticisms and misconceptions from different spheres. For example, the scandal that girls in the team are being raised for prostitution, which is rather untrue.

They have also been a lot of difficulties in getting some parents to key into our dream and a bit of unwelcoming attitudes during our representations at some functions, but on the long run, it’s been beautiful as we are never relenting, rather, steering farther into greatness, and great we will remain, shinning as bright as a supernova beyond human imaginations because ours is a course to conquer.

Our goal has always been and will continue to be:
Creating a platform where every girl’s strength and talent can be showcased.
To promote the best of attitude in girls and make them know their true worth. To build them into great women in the nearest future and the role they have to play in promoting the interest of the society.
To provide an avenue for physical fitness and healthy living in girls.
To raise girls into role models and great leaders.

Our success story will not be complete if we fail to appreciate the various important personalities who have contributed immensely towards the growth of the cheerleading team. Our heartfelt gratitude go to:

Senator Godswill Obot Akpabio [former governor of Akwa Ibom State and his lovely wife, Ekaette Unoma Akpabio.
Deacon Udom Gabriel Emmanuel, the Executive Governor of Akwa Ibom state and his dear wife, Deaconness Martha Udom Emmanuel.
Senator and Mrs Obong Bassey Albert
Comrade Unyime Usoro, Former NLC chair person Mr Aniekpeno Mkpanang, The permanent Secretary on Special Services Mr Monday Ebong Uko, the Honourable Commissioner for Youths and Sports, Akwa Ibom State.
Otuekong Nse Edem, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Youth and Sports, Akwa Ibom State
Mr Amaju Pinnick, the Nigerian Football Federation Chairman
Mr Shehu Dikko, the Chairman, League Management Company (LMC)
Members of the African Sports TV on Super Sports, most especially, Mr Tola Badekale, Collins Udoh and Mozez Praiz
The NFF and NFPL Media Crew, especially, Mr Oluwatoyin Ibiyote.
Akwa Ibom State Journalists, Akwa Ibom State Online Practitioners, especially Ibommobile Crew and a host of others too numerous to mention.
May God bless you all.

Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria Long live Akwa Ibom State
Long live the Cheerleaders Nigeria.