By: Ben Ogbemudia
Minister of Youth and sports Development Mr Sunday Dare has described  the Real Madrid Academy Port-Harcourt  as Rivers State new oil field that would not only create  jobs, but also provide alternate source of revenue for the country  aside oil.

Speaking  during  the Unveiling of the  Academy, in Port-Harcourt Mr Dare said ” Today history  has been  made with the setting up of the Real Madrid  Academy. This project  initiated by his Exellence *Barrister  Nyisom Wike* tallies with Government decision  to reclassify  sports from mere “play play” to real business.

The Governor  has gone ahead  by setting  up the Academy  before the formal commencement  of the implementation  of the Sports Industry  Policy which classifies sports as business.

We salute your vision and commitment  towards empowering our Youth who constitute  the majority  of our population”

Mr *Dare* further said ” I have been frantically  searching  for the right words to  describe the facilities, I will simply say Its the  wonder  of Rivers, a new oil field. As Minister  and a Nigerian devoid of partisanship today  since sports is a unifying factor,  I feel very proud that this lofty dream championed and executed  by his Excellence has become a reality.

The Academy  will further strengthen Government  resolve  to creating  new opportunities  for our youths who have become so restive due to economic  crunch   resulting in joblessness and  the  challenges  of a new  world order.

This Academy  will become a major  Centre of Excellence  and tourism  hub.

A Foundation  has been laid today that would  endure for generations  to come”

Speaking  in the same vein, Governor Wike said “Sports, especially  football is now big business. Imagine the transfer  of a single player which runs into billions of Naira. No State in Nigeria can get the kind of money that these players earn. We are setting  up this Academy to provide opportunities  for our Youths. Gone are the days when people were scared of playing football  because they did not want to break their legs.  Football has changed, so we encourage  our youths play football  and make their lives better. This Academy  will produce players that would play for Real Madrid  as well as our national team. We thank the Honourable Minister for honoring our invitation to Commission this project which has confounded  critics who say it’s a propaganda  tool or avenue to siphoning  money. I invite critics  to come and see what  God has done for Rivers people”

Special Adviser to the Governor  on *Real Madrid  Academy*  *Barrister Chris Green* assured  that the Academy  will  live up to expectations ” We not only have state of art infrastructure, but the manpower to make  the Academy  world class. Apart from the one in Morocco,  this the only Real Madrid  Academy  in sub- Saharan Africa. The vision of his Excellence  is to make it the best in the world The Academy will produce players that will combine football with education,  cultural values and professionalism”

Dare unveils Real Madrid Academy

The Minister  unveiled  the Academy  and took a tour of the facilities  with the Governor and other notable dignitaries.

Real Madrid  Foundation  gave the Franchise  to the Rivers State  Government  in 2019.