Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has said Real Madrid officials will be in Nigeria in March to lay the foundation stone of the Real Madrid Football Academy in the state.
Wike, who spoke during an interactive session with sports editors at the Government House in Port Harcourt on Monday night, explained that the academy would be completed six months after the stone laying ceremony.
The governor added that the academy would boost football in the state and help discover stars for the country.
Explaining that the state government would also complete the academy started by the immediate past administration in Etche Local Government Area, the governor noted that the facility would be developed as a sports academy.
He said, “Sport is a major revenue earner that cannot be disregarded by any government worth its salt. This administration will continue to support sports.”
Wike disclosed that the state would work with a non-governmental organisation to develop a swimming institute at the Diete-Spiff Civic Centre.
The National President of Sports Writers Association of Nigeria, Mr Honour Sirawoo, commended the governor for his commitment to sports development.
Meanwhile, Wike has promised that the state would be ready for the Africa Wrestling Championships from February 5 to 11 at the Alfred Diete-Spiff Sports Complex in Port Harcourt.
Twenty-five countries are expected to take part in the competition.
The governor said, “We don’t do things in half measures in Rivers and so we are going to show the world how serious we are about sports and hospitality.
“The venue is undergoing a very serious renovation and other arrangements are being handled professionally by the team we have in charge of the event. I am very sure that the participants will be happy to come here for the competition.”
The Chairman of the Local Organising Committee for the tournament, Boma Iyaye, said, “We are all excited that this is coming up to further boost the good works of the governor of the state.”
The President of the Nigeria Wrestling Federation, Daniel Igali, disclosed that Wike had been paying the allowances of the athletes who are in various camps across the country.
