•As corporate organizations scramble for spaces, sponsorship deals
The re-modelled Adamasingba stadium in Ibadan, Oyo State, has been named to be the top revenue generating source for Oyo State government and means of creating employment opportunities for indigenes and residents.
The Special Adviser to Governor Seyi Makinde on Culture and Tourism, Hon. Ademola Ige stated this on Monday, August 30, 2021, during a tour of the facilities at the stadium.
According to a statement by Dr. Bunmi Babalola, the Permanent Secretary, Oyo State Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism, Ibadan, Ige was accompanied by the Vice-Chairman, Oyo State Board of Tourism, Alhaji Abass Oloko; some members of the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC), led by the State Director, Mr. Dotun Opatola; Erelu Funmi Rotiba of the National Association of Nigerian Travel Agencies (Western zone); as well as the Federation of Tourism Association of Nigeria, among others.
The project will be commissioned by Governor Seyi Makinde on Wednesday, September 1, with special matches, meant to test-run the facilities in the stadium.
Ige said sports tourism would take over from other sources of revenue generation in the State, citing the examples of notable cities around the world with standard stadia, through which they get funds for other public projects.
“This is part of the efforts of Governor Seyi Makinde to make Oyo State a tourists’ destination, so this sports tourism project is one of other areas of tourism locations in eco-tourism, natural tourism and food tourism that are well noted around the world. This stadium is situated within the heart of the capital of the State and can be easily located.
“For the past 30 years that the Lekan Salami Sports Complex has been in existence, there has been no massive turn-around or refurbishment of the stadium like we are witnessing today under the present administration, and that is why we are here with the major stakeholders in the sector to look at the areas that are important in tourism and promote same to the world.
“”Prior to the commencement of this project, the governor said categorically that he has keen interest to develop tourism; to make tourism another major source of income for the state. And here we are, he promised and has just delivered on his promise. This is where the state will generate better revenue to service its programmes and public facility development projects. The Stadium is going to be the one to be laying the golden eggs in revenue generation henceforth,” he said.
The Chairman, Oyo State Sports Council, Hon. Gbenga Adewusi, in his reaction, said the re-modelling project would have a major impact on the history of Oyo State, as he noted that future generations of the state indigenes would remember the present administration for good.
He disclosed to newsmen that already, many corporate organizations and companies like Nigerian Breweries and some sport marketers had besieged the council to request for sponsorship of programmes, events and spaces in the stadium.
According to the representatives of National Association of Nigerian Travel Agencies (NANTA), Federation of Tourism Association of Nigeria (FTAN) and Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC), major facilities like museum, V.I.P lounge, statues of past sporting heroes from the state would attract tourists that would pay for controlled access to the stadium facilities.
They alluded to the facilities found at international sporting facilities like the Nou Camp in Barcelona, Emirate Stadium and the popular Brazil stadium, among others, as major sources of income generation for the countries where they are situated.
