Sports Minister Lauds Maracana Complex

*Says it is the way forward for Nigeria’s sports

Kunle Adewale

Minister of Sports Development, John Owan Enoh, has hailed Yemi Idowu for the renovation of the Maracana Sporting Complex in Ajegunle, Lagos State, stressing that it is the way forward for Nigeria’s sports.

Speaking during an inspection tour of the facility on Saturday, the minister said, “I can’t help but say wow! The Maracana Sporting Complex for me is not only a showpiece but a showcase of how our sports should go as a nation. It was Oniru of Iru, HRH Abdulwasiu Omogbolahan Lawal, that fist mentioned this complex to me before the Director General Budget of the federation, Ben Akabueze, also mentioned it and coming here today, I more than understand why they kept talking to me about the complex.”

“When I told some friends that I was coming to Ajegunle, they wondered what I was coming to do here. To find something positive that you can showcase to the rest of the country located in Ajegunle speaks volume of how much having sufficient will, commitment and passion can achieve. “I was told that this place use to be a dumpsite. So, there is a lot about here, not just the fact that it’s in Ajegunle, it’s also located where used to be a dumpsite. So, from a dumpsite you can have an edifice like this.

“I have seen many young kids here, meaning that this complex provides an opportunity for young kids to come and engage themselves in positive things and be happy playing football and to relate with themselves. No doubt this is the future our sports development policy. I thank Yemi Idowu, the chairman of Ajeromi Ifelodun Local Government, Fatai Ayoola, who has been very supportive and when we talk about promoting Public Private Partnership. I have also been told how much the Lagos State Government has provided an enabling environment to make this happen.

“When you see government providing the enablement and willing people who have passion and ready to develop sports, this becomes the product of that kind of partnership,” Enoh noted.

The minister also expresses his plan to take sports to the grassroots.

“As a sports development minister who is quite interested in how much we can take sporting facilities to the grassroots, how much we can get our young men and women usefully engaged to showcase and grow their talents to elite point, this for me becomes a showcase for the rest of the country and when I speak to corporate organisations, industrialists and captains of industries, the Maracana Sporting Complex would be my reference point.

“I need everyone to come and see the edifice so that we can expand it and develop it beyond football. Am really glad to have come here to see things for myself,” he concluded.