The Special Assistant on Research and Documentation to the Akwa Ibom State Governor, Nduese Essien, has said that the 18,000 seater stadium in Eket Local Government will enhance the discovery of more talents and boast economic development in the state
Essien disclosed this on Thursday, during a tour of the facility with Newsmen.
He said the inauguration would be preceded with a novelty football match between the state owned Akwa United Football Club and Katsina United Football Club, stating that both States were created on the same day, September 23rd, 1987, by the Babangida Administration.
The project constructed by the State Government will be inaugurated on Friday September 30th, with the Governor of Katsina State, Alhaji Bello Masasri, as Special guest of honour.
Essien, who acknowledged that before the intervention of the Governor, sporting activities in the area had been grounded, expressed happiness that the youths of Eket and all the adjourning areas would have facilities to boast their talents before making it into the big leagues.
He said; “The Governor had promised to ensure that the youth do not only see sports as leisure but a serious business to earn a decent living. This stadium will expose our youths early to befitting sporting facilities and activities that will enhance their talents in readiness for bigger competitions’’
“The new stadium will also reinvigorate sporting competition among schools in the senatorial district with youth competing on high standard tartan tracks with suitable sporting kits. The days of youth running on sandy fields with bare foots, are gone.”
The Governor’s aide noted that the new stadium will grossly reduce the pressure on the Next of Champions Stadium in Uyo, with the possibility of Dakkada Football Club, one of the State owned clubs, playing their home matches at Eket Stadium, as well as other football clubs in the State.
Essien said the facility will help boost the economy of the State.
He said, “Already as you can see, the arrival of the stadium have activated commercial activities around the entire area with the commencement of several businesses, building of new hotels and hospitality centres and more so the emergence of new network of roads because of the traffic of people and tourists to the area.’’
“The people of Eket are also very glad with the Eket city remodelling project, which had not only enhanced the estatics of the oil producing area, but made it the second most outstanding city in the state after Uyo, the state capital.”