The Rowe Park Sports Centre, Yaba, Lagos is buzzing again with reconstructed facilities which were handed over by the Lagos Stats Sports Trust Fund on Thursday.
A reconstructed Olympic size swimming pool plus a warm up pool, two tennis courts, a handball court, a volleyball court and a basketball court were refurbished by the LSSTF with donations from notable Nigerians, including Chief Kessignton Adebutu, Lagos State Lotteries and Gaming Authority, Julius Berger Plc, Sterling Bank, LASACO Assurance and the Lagos State Inland Revenue Services.
Lagos State governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who was represented at the event by the state’s Commissioner for Youth and Social Development Mobolaji Ogunlende, assured sports stakeholders that his government will continue to intervene to get the sector’s critical infrastructure in good shape as part of its sports development efforts.
“As we handover this facility today, we are not just commissioning a new swimming pool, we are also opening doors to new opportunities, promoting healthy lifestyles, and increase in number of medals in swimming for our state in future competitive events.
“I urge you all to take ownership of this swimming pool and protect it from vandalism and abuse.”
LSSTF’s Executive Secretary, Olaposi Agunbiade, disclosed that the rehabilitation of the facilities were made possible donors with technical support from the Nigeria Aquatic Federation.
“Three years ago, we had this idea of turning Rowe Park into a world-class sports centre. But funding was a problem then because of the fluctuations of foreign exchange. We were able to overcome it thanks to the contractor and our donors. Right now, we are redesigning some other parts of the facilities and work will soon commence on them as funding is not a problem again,” Agunbiade said.
Director-General of the Lagos State Sports Commission, Lekan Fatodu also said the rehabilitation of the facilities at the centre shows the state government’s commitment to ensuring other facilities in the state are functional.
“This is a pointer to what lies ahead. The communities are concerned and we are doing is an expression of determination to make sure these facilities are up and running,” Fatodu noted.