Adopt-A-Facility: Sports Minister Seeks Private Sector Investment
Nigeria’s Minister of Sports Development, Senator John Enoh, has called on the private sector to key into the “Adopt-A-Facility” scheme of the ministry.
The minister made the call in Abuja at the handover of the renovated Abuja National Stadium training pitch by AfriKing Homes to the ministry under the expanded ‘Adopt-A-Facility’ scheme.
The expanded scheme encourages the private sector to ‘adopt’ and invest in sporting facilities in the country. Enoh commended the real estate company for the successful completion and handover of the strategic project within the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja.
The company assumed responsibility for rehabilitating the training pitch earlier this year as part of the “Adopt-A- Pitch” initiative by former Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare. Enoh urged other corporate entities to follow suit and actively participate in similar ventures.
“This is no easy feat and it is driven by passion and benevolence, love for the sports and love for the country,” Enoh said.“The Sports Ministry commends this effort and is proud of Afri Kings Homes Ltd. for this gesture. It is a partnership that we will continue to nurture for national interest.”
“Incidentally, the Ministry of Sports Development under my leadership has also committed itself to sustaining the programme under which AfriKings Homes undertook this project.”
“The only difference is that it is now called Adopt-A-Facility programme. In the view of the Ministry, a facility encompasses more. As we deal with several other sporting federations, we want to ensure the window is open for all federations to thrive,” he added.
The Sports Minister reiterated that by the provision of the National Sports Industry Policy (NSIP), the ministry was ready to collaborate with the private sector to advance sports development.
The Chairman of AfriKing Homes, Kingsley Awodi, highlighted the company’s dedication to the project. He stated that the rejuvenation of Practice Pitch 1 of the stadium was a part of the company’s corporate responsibility to support the government in enhancing the nation’s sporting infrastructure.
He assured the minister of the company’s unwavering commitment to the maintenance and upkeep of the facility for the next two years.
