Sports men and women, not excluding games enthusiasts, thronged the National Institute for Sports ( NIS) on Friday evening last week, to raise songs of appreciation and gratitude to Lagos governor, Babajide sanwo-0lu for the miraculous transformation of the Sports facilities inside the National stadium which will host the 35th edition of National Festival of Arts and Culture ( Nafest) from Monday 7th November to 13th.
Added excitement to the iconic festival , were also the arrival of 400 members of team Rivers state, which has sent shivers down the preparations of other states, indicative that Rivers state which out did other states when it’s hosted Nafest in 2018, is here in lagos to out class and out medal other states participants.
Some of the Sports persons who spoke to us, says Governor sanwo-0lu’s midas touch on the stadium facilities, has wiped away their tears which flowed endlessly in the past two decades due to the decadence of the facilities abandoned to rot and waste.
Isa Tajudeen, a boxing buff, disclosed he was pleseantly surprised at the new transformation of the Sports city by Lagos governor and wondered why the federal government, waited for this long before giving the governor the green light to return the national Sports edifice to winning ways.
Bisi Otitiola, a long tennis enthusiast, who was among the cheering Sports persons who came to visit the Director General of National Council for Arts and Culture ( NCAC) 0tunba Segun Runsewe to express their gratitude for finding the national stadium fit to host the iconic festival, urged him to inform the “talk and do” governor of lagos state, that they are happy with what has done for the Sports city in the heart of Surulere, Lagos.
Away from Sports tourism, governor Wike’s 400 man team Nafest touched lagos Saturday evening, and were at NIS office of NCAC Director General, 0tunba Segun Runsewe to express their readiness to take the overall winner Gong back to Rivers state.
Permanent Secretary, Lagos Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mrs Oyinade Nathan Mash was with Otunba Runsewe , putting finishing touches to the preparations for the festival, and joined in receiving governor Wike’s Culture contingent, Says Lagos is ready to keep the festival prized Gong.
Benue State, also touched down Lagos with 250 man strong Culture team, indicative of the very competitiveness of Eko Nafest, 2022.
” We join the sports men and women to appreciate Governor Babajide Sanwo-0lu and I must confess, sports can benefit from a robust relationship with Culture, particularly with sports and culture loving governor Babajide Sanwo-0lu. We are ready and the early birds of Rivers and Benue States team, is exciting ” Runsewe explained.
