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Barely six months after taking over the reins of the Cross River State Sports Commission, Chairman Lawrence Etta Itanya has begun delivering on his promise to restore the state’s fading sporting glory, with the promotion of Pelican Stars to the Nigeria Women’s Football League (NWFL) Premiership standing out as the biggest proof yet.
The feat has crowned a whirlwind six months that have seen Cross River rise from the shadows to become one of Nigeria’s fastest-rising sporting states through deliberate reforms, grassroots talent development and improved athlete welfare.
Appointed by Governor Bassey Edet Otu on January 5, 2026, Itanya had vowed to rewrite the state’s sporting story within six months. Many doubted him.
Today, the results are speaking loudly.
“I promised Governor Bassey Otu that I would not disappoint him. Every day since I assumed office has been about fulfilling that promise,” he said.
His first test came almost immediately with preparations for the Niger Delta Sports Festival. Rather than complain about time and funding, Itanya mobilised over 1,000 athletes, coaches and officials and introduced a policy that gave priority to homegrown athletes instead of relying on competitors recruited from other states.
With no functional camp, the Commission lodged athletes in hotels for 35 days to ensure uninterrupted preparation.
The gamble paid off as Cross River finished fifth overall at the festival, recording one of its best outings in recent years after previously struggling near the bottom of the medals table.
The state followed up that impressive showing by emerging as the best-performing state at the MTN Champs athletics competition, beating competitors from across Nigeria and even some foreign participants.
Football has also witnessed a remarkable revival.
One of Itanya’s earliest decisions was to overhaul the management of Pelican Stars, handing the club a fresh mandate to regain its place among Nigeria’s elite women’s teams.
The decision has now paid dividends with the club’s successful return to the NWFL Premiership.
The Commission has also intensified efforts to revive Calabar Rovers, strengthen sports associations and deepen grassroots talent discovery across athletics, basketball, volleyball, handball, table tennis and combat sports.
Despite the growing list of achievements, Itanya admitted that inadequate funding remains the biggest hurdle.
According to him, the Commission supervises over 47 sporting associations and more than 1,000 athletes but survives on a monthly subvention of about ₦5 million.
“It is not easy, but we have refused to allow limited resources to limit our vision,” he said, while calling on corporate organisations to partner with the Commission to develop sports and empower young talents.
He added that rehabilitation of the U.J. Esuene Stadium is ongoing, while plans are in place to expand sporting infrastructure and attract private investment through improved digital visibility.
Sports stakeholders say the difference is already evident. Within six months, Cross River has recorded better performances, revived confidence among athletes and administrators, restored Pelican Stars to the elite league and laid a solid foundation for sustainable sports development.
For many observers, Itanya’s first six months have transformed what once sounded like a bold promise into a sporting revival that is fast gathering momentum.
