By Goodluck Ikiebe
The Federal Government has applauded the Management of AfriKing Homes Ltd for the successful completion and handover of the Abuja National Stadium Training Pitch to the Federal Ministry of Sports Development under the Adopt-A-Pitch initiative earlier initiated by the former Minister of Sports and Youth Development, Mr Sunday Dare.
The Honourable Minister of Sports Development, Senator John Owan Enoh, during the handover ceremony at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium Abuja, commended the organization for rehabilitating the training pitch, saying that it was a remarkable achievement not only for the football family but to the development of sports in Nigeria
He urged other private and corporate organizations to follow suit by actively participating in similar ventures under his expanded, Adopt-A-Facility-Initiative, stating that the new expansion initiative will make room to encompass other Sports federations.
The Minister explained that the new initiative was designed to ensure the full implementation of the Renewed Hope Agenda of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led Administration, which recently endosed the National Sports Industry Policy (NSIP) approved by the immediate past administration which classified Sports as a business and not just a mere recreation.
He added that the Federal Ministry of Sports Development under his watch is ready to collaborate with the private sector organisations using this policy initiative of government to advance Sports development in Nigeria.
“The Ministry of Sports Development under my leadership has also committed itself to sustaining the program under which AfriKings Homes undertook this project. The only difference is that it is now called Adopt-A-Facility Programme. In the reason of the Ministry, a facility encompasses more.
As we deal with several other sporting federations, we want to ensure the window is open for all federations to thrive,” Senator Owan Enoh explained.
The Minister, who observed that what Afriking Homes did is no-easy feat, but that the effort was driven by passion, benevolence, love for the sports and love for the country, adding that, “The Federal Ministry of Sports Development commends this effort and is proud of Afri Kings Homes Ltd for this gesture, It is a partnership that we will continue to nurture for national interest”, he concluded
Speaking earlier, the Permanent Secretary overseeing the Federal Ministries of Sports and Youth Development, Alhaji Ismaila Abubakar, stated that the Federal Ministry of Sports Development will continue to create an enabling environment for the successful engagement of the corporate and private sector organisations with a view to ensuring the successful development of Sports in the country, especially in the areas of grassroots Sports and infrastructure upgrade so as to provide job opportunities for the teeming youths, alleviate poverty amongst them in order to foster unity, peace and stability in the nation.
In his remarks,
Chairman of AfriKing Homes Ltd, Kingsley James Awodi, highlighted the company’s dedication to the project, stating that the rehabilitation of Practice Pitch 1 at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium was part of their corporate social responsibility to support the efforts of the Federal Government in enhancing the nation’s sporting infrastructure.
Awodi assured the Minister of their unwavering commitment to the maintenance and upkeep of the facility for the next two years.
“This important initiative of the Federal Government in its avowed determination to transform the sports sector in line with global realities
stands as a testament to the private sector’s pivotal role in fostering the upgrade and maintenance of sporting facilities across the country for the development of the sector in line with the policy thrust of the present administration”.
