The Nigerian Government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Kaduna State Government on the custody and management of the 25, 000 capacity Ahmadu Bello Stadium by the State.
The Honourable Minister of Sports and Youth Development, Mr Sunday Dare alongside the Executive Governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasiru El-Rufai, signed the MoU on Friday at the Council Chamber, Government House, Kaduna.
The handing over ceremony follows the visit of the Governor to the Minister last week in Abuja to finalise arrangements on the processes for handing over the facility to the State for its rehabilitation and management.
At the event, the Minister stated that the ceremony was in realization of the policy objectives of Adopt-a-Facility initiative by the President Muhammadu Buhari-led Administration.
Dare expressed optimism that the Kaduna State Government will develop and effectively manage the sporting facility for the benefit of the 19 Northern States and Nigeria adding that, State-of-the Art sporting infrastructure is the backbone of sports development in every country of the world.
He therefore called on other stakeholders and sports loving individuals to join hands with the Federal Government to developing sporting infrastructure across the country so as to provide the teeming youths with the opportunity to showcase their sporting talents, thus contribute to the socio-economic development of Nigeria.
Also speaking, the Executive Governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, assured that his administration would ensure the rehabilitation of the facility, not only to enable the teeming Nigerian youths showcase their talents but also boost revenue generation for the State.
The occasion witnessed a novelty football match between Team Dare – Bonanza and Team El-Rufai, which ended in 2-1 in favour of the Governor’s side.
