By Ben Adoga, Abuja
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, on Monday, flagged off a multi-event sports Centre in the Kafe district of the FCT.
Wike emphasised the importance of sports in the lives of the people and the nation’s economy. He said a country like Brazil has used sports to improve their economy.
“Today, sports are one of those things that keep many countries going. Brazil exports many players to the world and earns a significant amount of money from it. And you cannot do that if you have no facilities that will encourage and bring out the talents of our youth.”
Wike said sports is one of the President’s eight-point agenda to empower the youth. He said sports would make sure that the youths are active, and “it would generate employment, generate revenue for themselves. If you look at the concept, it’s very holistic.”
The sports centre, according to the Minister, would have “everything you can talk about, any kind of sports, and so we encourage our youth to take advantage of this.”
The complex is a 5.7-hectare facility with multiple football fields, basketball courts, volleyball courts, squash courts, and other facilities, including convenience stores.
The Minister stated that for the project’s viability, the government would not manage the facility directly.
“Although the government will not run it. We’ll go into partnership with private individuals to see how we can run and maintain it because you know the moment it goes into the hands of the government, obviously, give it two weeks, you will see that it will be getting to another thing, and we don’t want that.”
“You want to be a basketballer, you want to be a volleyballer, footballer, long tennis player, squash player, table tennis player, whatever you think, and we’re going to make it available here and to the international standard.”
Wike assured that the flagged off facility would not be the only one, as more centres would be established in other parts and in other area councils too.
“We’re going to make sure that at least next year we will go to other area councils to make sure we encourage our youths in those area councils.”
Wike said that, though the contract was for one year, he assured that if the contractor could reduce the time to enable the President to commission part of it on his third anniversary, he would make the money available.
“The ES, FCDA, has said that this job is for one year. Let me appeal to the contractor that, if you agree with us, you can deliver this by the first or second week of June next year. Therefore, the President will utilise this as part of the third anniversary celebration. If you make that commitment for us, I can assure you that we’ll ensure the money is available for you to complete this first set.
“If you don’t do it well, that’s the end of your contract for you in FCT. I don’t joke with it; it’s not about saying we are trying to promote our own local content. Please, it’s an opportunity.”
Earlier, the Executive Secretary of the Federal Capital Development Authority, Engr. Yohana Dauda, in the project overview, stated that the project aimed to support the growing interest among the youth population in maintaining their fitness and promoting good health.
He explained that the facility was situated on a 5.7-hectare plot in the Kafe district of the FCT.
It will accommodate two major football fields and nine mini football fields, as well as basketball facilities, squash facilities, and other amenities.
Additionally, the Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Shehu Dikko, threw his support behind the project.
“Sports is not just taken as an entertainment but as an economy, and we are privileged, we are honoured to be given that mandate to drive that vision of Mr President.
“One of the things we came up with was what we call the Renewed Hope Initiative for the Nigerian Sports Economy. Under that program, many objectives need to be achieved, but the first thing we focus on is what we call the three R’s.
“We have to bring the foreign exchange. We must develop talent that enables us to dominate the global sports talent landscape. That’s in short the vision of sport in addition to what sports can do for us.”
