The Federal Government has formally handed back the management of the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium to the Enugu State Government.
At the handover ceremony held on Tuesday at the Government House, Enugu, the representative of the Federal Government and Director General of the National Sports Commission, Gbenga Elegbeleye, said that the event followed the approval by President Goodluck Jonathan, of an application to that effect made by the Enugu State Government.
He noted that the state had over the years collaborated with the Federal Government in maintaining and rehabilitating the Stadium saying it had made huge financial investments in the provision of vital facilities for the successful hosting of the FIFA U-17 World Cup in 2009.
Elegbeleye added that, “This act convinced the Federal Government that the Enugu State was capable of maintaining the Stadium in line with approved international standards”.
Noting that Sports was a unifying factor and a tool for international diplomacy and creation of wealth, he enjoined other states in the country to emulate the Enugu example in the development and maintenance of sports infrastructure. He commended the reactivation of the school sports by the state.
Responding, Governor Chime expressed delight at the return of the facility to the state and assuring that it will be better managed under the state ministry of Sports and Youth Development.
He said that his request for the return of the Stadium was prompted by the decision of the Federal Government to sell some of the facilities there adding that this had prompted anxiety in the state that the whole stadium could be sold to outsiders.
The Governor therefore commended President Jonathan for his prompt response to his request and assured that the Stadium will not only be well managed but will also be open to an accessible to all and sundry.
“All we are interested in is just to promote sports. Take our assurances on this to the Federal Government and be rest assured that the standard will go up rather than go down”, Governor Chime said.
At the handover ceremony held on Tuesday at the Government House, Enugu, the representative of the Federal Government and Director General of the National Sports Commission, Gbenga Elegbeleye, said that the event followed the approval by President Goodluck Jonathan, of an application to that effect made by the Enugu State Government.
He noted that the state had over the years collaborated with the Federal Government in maintaining and rehabilitating the Stadium saying it had made huge financial investments in the provision of vital facilities for the successful hosting of the FIFA U-17 World Cup in 2009.
Elegbeleye added that, “This act convinced the Federal Government that the Enugu State was capable of maintaining the Stadium in line with approved international standards”.
Noting that Sports was a unifying factor and a tool for international diplomacy and creation of wealth, he enjoined other states in the country to emulate the Enugu example in the development and maintenance of sports infrastructure. He commended the reactivation of the school sports by the state.
Responding, Governor Chime expressed delight at the return of the facility to the state and assuring that it will be better managed under the state ministry of Sports and Youth Development.
He said that his request for the return of the Stadium was prompted by the decision of the Federal Government to sell some of the facilities there adding that this had prompted anxiety in the state that the whole stadium could be sold to outsiders.
The Governor therefore commended President Jonathan for his prompt response to his request and assured that the Stadium will not only be well managed but will also be open to an accessible to all and sundry.
“All we are interested in is just to promote sports. Take our assurances on this to the Federal Government and be rest assured that the standard will go up rather than go down”, Governor Chime said.
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