Edo State Government To Build 20 Stadia In 18 LGAs

By Lucky Isibor

Edo State Government is to build twenty Stadia in the eighteen Local Government Areas of the state.

Edo state Deputy Governor, Rt. Hon. Philip Shaibu made the state government’s plan known in his opening remarks at the finals of the Nigeria Women Football League Super Four, held Friday at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City, Edo state.

The Deputy Governor said the plan is aimed at a holistic approach to the development of all sports in the state disclosing that work will soon commence in the renovation and rehabilitation of Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City.

He assured that both the male and female football teams will be encouraged so that they can make the premier division next year.

“The Governor is determined to revamp and return Edo state to what it used to be and and move it to the digital era of sporting activities.

“We all know we have been lacking in premiership. Edo state has been out of premiership for a long time. We are determined to bring  it back to Edo state.

“Beyond tournament and bringing international matches to Edo state, there is one critical thing the government is determined to do, to improve on the sporting facilities in Edo state beyond the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium.

“We have the plan to have sporting Stadia which will house football, athletics and other sporting activities in the eighteen Local Government Areas in Edo state. We are going to have twenty mini-stadia in eighteen Local Government Areas.

“Very soon our darling Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium will wear a very new look that will not only attract international tournaments, but will be able to host what we call a premiership team in Edo state”, he said.

The finals of the Women Football League Super Four which was watched by Nasarawa State Deputy Governor, Silas Ali Agara, the Chief of Staff to Edo State Governor, Mr. Taiwo Akerele, civil commissioners from Edo, Delta and Nasarawa states amongst other government functionaries, saw Nasarawa Amazons of Lafia locking horns with Delta Queens of Kwale.

After ninety minutes of play, Nasarawa Amazons defeated Delta Queens by a lone goal.

Nasarawa Amazons’ lone goal of the match came through Amarachi Okonkwo in the twentieth minute of the first half.

All efforts by Delta Queens to equalize in the second half were successfully resisted by the Nasarawa girls.

The winner of the Women Football League Super Four went home with a cash prize of three million naira, the runner up got two million naira.

High point of the occasion was the presentation of medals and cheques for the money prizes to the winning teams by Edo state Deputy Governor, Rt. Hon. Philip Shaibu and his Nasarawa state counterpart, Silas Ali Agara.