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Former President Goodluck Jonathan, on Monday, turned
the sod of the new Olympic-standard 25,000-capacity Bayelsa stadium project at
Igbogene, Yenagoa, as part of the activities marking the fifth anniversary of
the Senator Douye Diri administration.
The former Nigerian leader performed the
groundbreaking ceremony on a day Governor Diri restated his appeal to the
federal government, the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), oil firms
operating in the state and the private sector to join hands with his
administration to develop sporting talents.
The Federal Government through the National Sports
Commission (NSC) and the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) equally thumped up
Governor Diri for initiating the project.
Dr. Jonathan
expressed delight over the project, saying as a Bayelsan, he was duty bound to
celebrate with the state government for the progress so far achieved.
He lauded Diri’s developmental strides, urging him not
to rest on his laurels and that the contractor and the state government should
ensure the project met the highest standards.
Jonathan also called on the state and federal
governments to set up a sports fund to cater for sportsmen after their active
days and encourage younger ones to be involved in sports.
He said: "This is my state and I have to
celebrate with the government for the progress so far made. This is an iconic
project that will develop the state. Please do not rest on your laurels as we
want this stadium to meet the best standards.
"I am happy with the presence of relevant federal
government officials. I hope they will guide the state well and support where
necessary.
"As a country, we must have a fund to care for
sportsmen. The federal and state government can think about it so that the
younger generation will be interested in sports.
“I am happy that you gave a target of 24 months and I
hope that by that time I will escort President Tinubu to Bayelsa to inaugurate
it."
In his remarks, Governor Douye Diri said the
groundbreaking ceremony embodied a transformative advancement for the state
with the potential to reshape the identity and aspirations of Bayelsa in the
realm of sports and beyond.
He said the project was in line with the Assured
Prosperity mantra of his administration, which prioritises urbanisation,
sports, and youth development as the cornerstones of development.
Diri noted that boyind the value the project would add
to the sports sector, the stadium will also generate economic opportunities,
provide jobs and stimulate local businesses.
The state’s helmsman said while the government
recognised the cost implication of the project, it was determined to make
it a reality and urged young people in
the state to seize the opportunity and strive for excellence, aiming for new
heights.
He called on oil multinationals operating in the state
as well as other government and private agencies to support the project in line
with global practice where big business brands support sports.
He said: "This facility will serve as an
inspiration for our youth - a place where dreams can take flight, talent can be
cultivated, and champions can arise.
"The construction of this ultra-modern stadium
aligns seamlessly with our broader agenda, not just for sports, but for the
comprehensive development of our urban landscape.
"Globally, the practice of major brands
sponsoring sports and stadiums has become a widespread phenomenon since the
late 1990s. Notable examples include Emirates' sponsorship of Arsenal Football
Club's stadium, Etihad Airways' partnership with Manchester City Football Club,
and Vodafone's sponsorship of the McLaren Formula 1 team. Similarly, in the
United States, companies like AT&T, Verizon, and Bank of America have
sponsored various sports stadiums and events.
"Our situation should not be different. I
strongly urge our federal intervention agencies such as the NDDC and
multinational companies, particularly those in the banking, telecommunications,
and oil sectors, to emulate this trend and explore opportunities for sponsoring
sports and this project. Stand with our youth. In doing so, they will promote
their brands while contributing to the development of our sports
infrastructure. This will ensure that the Assured Prosperity of Bayelsa State
remains on track.”
In a goodwill message,
Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Alhaji Shehu Dikko, said the
Federal Government endorsed the project, saying it is in line with the ideals
of the government at the centre.
He remrked that it is visionary and bold to embark on
the project, which he said had the capacity to impact on the economy of the
state and pledged the support of the Commission to make the project a reality.
Also, the NFF President, Alhaji Ibrahim Gusau, and his
predecessor, Amaju Pinnick, both described Diri as a man of his words and
pledged support for the project, which they say will benefit not only Bayelsa
but Nigeria at large.
In a welcome address, the Bayelsa State Commissioner
for Sports, Dr. Daniel Igali, said the stadium had the capacity to make the
state a dominant force in sports, saying for almost three decades, the Samson
Siasia Sports Complex had served the state but that it was no longer adequate.
He said sportsmen and women have been making the state proud, stressing that when completed the stadium would create more sports champions and drive economic activities.
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