The Nasarawa State Government has announced plans to build a major stadium in Lafia and six mini stadia across the state to enable youths engage in various sporting activities.
Governor Abdullahi Sule stated this on Wednesday while receiving the National Executive Council ( NEC) of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria ( SWAN) and members of the State chapter of the association during a courtesy call at Government House, Lafia.
Sule who described sports as a unifying factor said the state would build a brand new stadium in Lafia and six mini stadia across the state to encourage sports not only in the capital but across different locations to enable the youth enjoy sports to the fullest.
He noted that the state government under his leadership was carrying out different sporting programmes to harness young talents saying that it has introduced local Government councils sports competition to promote sports activities in the state.
” One thing that United people is sports . It brings the youth together and take their attention away from criminality . That is why we have gone far in trying to start the construction of our brand new stadium in Lafia .
“We are also looking at another six mini stadia across the state and we are doing the best we can when it comes to sports,” he said.
Sule, therefore thanked the National Executive Council of SWAN for choosing his state for their NEC meeting and for recognising him with an ICON of Sports award due to his developmental strides recorded in sports.
He promised to continue to do more in the area of sports development even as he pledged to support the association’s growth and development.
Earlier in his remarks, the National President of SWAN, Comrade Benjamin Isaiah lauded the Governor’s development strides in sports and other sectors, saying he has given Nasarawa a facelift.
” I want to commend your efforts in repositioning sports in Nasarawa State especially in Nasarawa United football club and Nasarawa Amazons and your efforts in ensuring that the two teams are properly placed.
” We want to showcase Nasarawa State to the world in terms of sporting activities and other projects that you have been undertaking and will continue to do for the people of the state,” he said.
He, appreciated the governor for hosting SWAN NEC in his state and called for more collaboration between the Association and the state for the growth and development of the state.
The national leadership of SWAN therefore presented an ICON of Sports award to Governor Sule as a recognition for his commitment to the development of sports in the state.
The Voice reports that the SWAN NEC visited project sites including the ongoing construction of the Lafia flyover and underpass by the state government as well as some sporting facilities in the state.
