The Ogun State government has renamed the newly refurbished MKO Abiola Stadium, Abeokuta, as MKO Abiola Sports Complex following the addition of new facilities in the structure ahead of the 22nd National Sports Festival (NSF).

The stadium previously had only a football pitch and an athletics track, but it now boasts a 50-metre Olympic-size swimming pool, basketball, tennis, and handball courts, a new digital scoreboard, a tartan track, as well as a hybrid football turf.

Explaining the decision to add new structures to the complex, Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, said that hosting the NSF has helped to revive many of the state’s sporting facilities, driving the sporting ecosystem and boosting the GDP of the Gateway State.

“Before the NSF, we planned to rename the MKO Abiola Stadium to MKO Abiola Sports Complex because the edifice now has what it takes to be considered a sporting complex. The stadium now boast an Olympic-size swimming pool, a tartan track, a digital scoreboard and floodlights, tennis, basketball, and handball courts, with a VVIP seat that can accommodate 150 guests at a time. We have spent a lot to put our facilities in good shape, and we believe that beyond the NSF, we want to ensure that we build a sporting ecosystem that can improve our GDP in the state.”

Governor Abiodun highlighted the positive impact of the NSF, noting that the Confederation of African Athletics (CAA) has chosen Ogun State to host the 2025 U-18 and U-20 African Championships in July, after initially awarding it to Algeria.

“This is what we envisioned when we decided to bid for the NSF, and now, the results have started coming on board. We look forward to such events soon so that Ogun State can become part of the global sporting ecosystem,” he said.

He added that bidding for and hosting the NSF was an intentional venture by the government aimed at improving infrastructure and creating a sports economy for the state.

“Ogun’s business circle will experience a bumper harvest during the event, with major hotels fully booked and petty traders making brisk businesses,” he said.

[Guardian]