In line with the Fedral Government’s Adopt-a-pitch campaign, Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, has committed one million dollars to the renovation of the mainbowl of MKO Abiola Stadium, Abuja.
This is coming on the heels of the billionaire’s pledge nine months ago to renovate the 60,000 capacity edifice.
At the handing over ceremony on Wednesday, Mansur Ahmed, Group Executive Director, Dangote Group, assured that the Billionaire will ensure the main bowl of the stadium is restored to world-class.
“Aliko Dangote is committing the sum of one million dollars to ensure that the main bowl pitch of MKO Abiola stadium is restored to world-class,” Ahmed said.
Sunday Dare, Minister of Youth and Sports Development, commended Dangote for keeping his words and for supporting the Adopt-a-Pitch campaign of the FG in the area of sports development.
“After months of discussions, planning and processing, that promise has come to fulfillment today with the kick –off of the project. The football pitch will be getting the long overdue face- lift it deserves,” Dare said.
“This landmark event reinforces my faith in the public-private sector partnership in line with Government’s efforts at delivering on our mandate. Government alone cannot fund sports and maintain facilities”.
“We need more private corporations to take a cue from what Aliko Dangote and Adebutu Kessington have done in supporting our drive to renovate and maintain our facilities for use by our athletes and to play host to international events.”
The renovation is expected to take 24-weeks to be completed. Before now, the stadium was a shadow of its self, with dilapidated facilities, grass and refuse littering virtually at every spot.
Present at the pitch handing over ceremony were; Obinna Ogba, chairman, senate committee on sports; Habu Gumel, president of Nigeria Olympic Committee; Alhassan Yakmut; Daniel Amokachi, Special Assistant to President on Sports; Nwankwo Kanu, Garba Lawal, Tijani Babangida, Chika Chukwumerije and Gabriel Okon.
