WIKE FLAGS OFF MULTI-EVENT SPORTS CENTRE IN KAFE DISTRICT, TASKS CONTRACTOR ON TIMELY DELIVERY

…MOURNS PASSING OF HOS

By: Wisdom Acka and Prudence Okonna

In a bold move to unlock the potential of Nigerian youth through sports, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Barr. Nyesom Wike, has flagged off the construction of a multi-event sports centre at Kafe District Lot II.

The Minister flagged off the proposed sports centre on Monday 1st September, 2025.

Barr. Wike said that sports is beyond keeping fit, noting that countries like Brazil export sports talent and make a lot of money because they have invested in facilities adding, “we cannot achieve that without facilities that encourage these talents”.

The Minister said the project aligns with the President’s eight-point agenda to promote youth development, stressing that sports must be used as a tool to engage young people, encourage entrepreneurship, promote healthy living, and curb social vices.

He described the facility as “Wholistic” because it has every sport facility, adding, that is why it is called the multi-events sports centre.

“Part of the President’s eight-point agenda is to make sure our youths are active. If you look at the concept, it is very wholistic, that is why we call it a multi-event sport centre. This facility has everything you can talk about; any kind of sports can be played here. So, we encourage our youths to take advantage of it.” The Minister emphasized

He also revealed that the world class facility will be privately managed to ensure its sustainability.

Barr. Wike charged the contractor to ensure its completion by June 2026 in time to mark President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s third year anniversary in office.

The Minister further noted that the Kafe project was only one among several sports centres planned for the FCT, promising that other districts and area councils would benefit in the coming phases.

Meanwhile, the Minister seized the moment to mourn the demise of the FCT Head of Service, Grace Adayilo who passed away in the early hours of Monday, September 1st, 2025.

He explained that the Head of Service was very committed to seeing the success of the Administration, even as a one-minute silence was observed in honour of the late Hon. Grace Adayilo.

Also, speaking at the event, Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Malam Shehu Dikko, commended the initiative, describing it as critical to grassroots sports development in Nigeria.

Dikko added that the NSC’s vision is to make sure that sports becomes  a key driver of the economy by developing it at the grassroots.

His words: “What the FCT is doing aligns with the President’s vision, and we want every state to emulate this by investing in sports infrastructure”.

The NSC chairman explained that one of the ways to ensure this development is to invest in sports infrastructure which the FCT Minister has begun.

“We are ready to provide technical support, and with the planned rollout of 40 of these centres nationwide, over three million jobs will be created,” he assured.

Also speaking, the FCT Minister of State, Dr. Mariya Mahmoud, expressed appreciation to President Tinubu for his unwavering support to infrastructural development, particularly in sports.

She described the project as a legacy that would “outlive the present generation” and foster a culture of fitness and wellness in the city.

“This centre is one that is bound to shine, and it will serve as a hub for promoting healthy lifestyles and youth engagement,” she said.

Earlier, the Executive Secretary of the FCDA, Engr. Richard Dauda, explained that the multifunctional facility would sit on 5.7 hectares of land located on plot 124 cadastral zone of Kafe District.

He disclosed that the centre will feature one standard football pitch, two medium-sized football pitches, nine mini football pitches, four lawn tennis courts, basketball court, squash building, male and female changing rooms, restrooms, accommodation and other standard facilities.

Abuja Digest reports that the Managing Director of the contractors, Tegwa-Tegwa Nigeria Ltd., Engr. Peter Otegwa, assured the Minister and residents of the FCT of timely delivery, pledging to meet up with the stipulated deadline.