Nigeria’s Olympic Medalist, Mary Onyali- Omagbemi, has noted that if the facilities at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City, Edo State, are well harnessed, the state will be able to produce not less than 1000 athletes in different sports every year.
Onyali-Omagbemi said this when she accompanied the Minister of Youths and Sports Development, Sunday Dare, on an inspection of the facilities for the 20th edition of the National Sports Festival (NSF) tagged Edo 2020, to be held in Benin City, the Edo State capital.
She expressed delight in the world-class facilities at the Stadium, which she said is comparable to what can be found in advanced countries.
According to her, “You can’t find anything better than this right now in the South of the Sahara. These facilities are world-class and all you need to compete at the global level is here at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium. These facilities will produce more than 1,000 athletes a year and you know what that will do for our sports.”
The Minister, on his part, said the facilities at the stadium and across Benin City, are top notch and would ensure for a successful hosting of the games in the state.
He said: “I can’t ask for more with what I have seen here. Sports men and women can’t ask for better facilities than what we have here at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Edo State. The facilities and equipment will excite the athletes, as they are comparable to what you will find anywhere in the world.
“This is a revamp of sporting facilities to global standards never before seen anywhere in the country. It raises the bar for any other state that wants to revamp its sporting facilities. I am satisfied with what I have seen here today and most of our athletes will be ready to compete here and set new personal and world records.”