Cross River State Governor, Senator Bassey Otu, has flagged-off the ground breaking for the remodeling of U.J. Esuene Stadium Hostel, which will be transformed into the Calabar Sports Resorts and Leisure Hotel.
During the event, Governor Otu highlighted the rich sports history of Cross River State, which once boasted internationally acclaimed athletes who represented Nigeria and won numerous accolades. The remodeling project aims to position Cross River as a national sports hub and transform sports into a business-driven and economically empowering sector.
“We are here to open the earth to install a unique edifice that is going to enhance the aesthetics of our sporting arena and activities in the State. Coming into office, we had made it clear that sports will no longer be a leisure as such, but a business.”
“I know the several strides of our sports men and women including what the Sports Ministry has been able to achieve within the short period of time, both in terms of field athletics and football, we have medalists and a lot of dreamers now, who want to actualize their dreams, all courtesy of the fact that the sporting environment has changed.”
Governor Otu emphasized his administration’s readiness to forge mutually beneficial partnerships with the private sector to revamp sports infrastructure and achieve the government’s sports policy objectives.
“Government must collaborate with the private sector to bring in the needed infrastructure to drive sports, because Sports will continue to remain a stimulant for revenue. But we cannot fully actualize that without proper infrastructure. We have these facilities here and they are long abandoned and overdue, very soon the story is going to change”
In her opening remarks, the Commissioner for Sports Development, Mrs. Agnes Atsu, expressed the state’s desire to reclaim its position as a sports powerhouse and showcase its exceptional talents to the world. She noted that the project would provide top-notch accommodation for athletes during sporting events in the state.
Mrs. Atsu also praised Governor Otu’s commitment to sports development, which has led to significant growth in sporting activities since he assumed office. “Cross River State has achieved remarkable success in various sports competitions, with over 90 laurels, including nine gold medals, 32 silver medals, and 62 bronze medals. Many athletes from Cross River have also qualified for the Olympics.”
To elevate the state’s sporting facilities, Mr. Sanjay Oscar, the project’s consultant, emphasized the importance of quality accommodation for hosting sporting events. The International Sports Hotels and Resort, featuring 72 rooms and a capacity for 400 guests, will address the accommodation needs of athletes and position the state as an ideal destination for sporting events.
Mr. Oscar announced that Square Builder Concepts Nigeria Limited has been identified as a potential investment funding partner for the project. Construction work will commence on Monday, and efforts will be made to extend similar renovations to other minor stadiums in local governments across the state.
Representing Square Builder Concepts Nigeria Limited, Alh. Usman Bashir expressed excitement about partnering with the Cross River State government on the project. He assured that the construction would be completed by December 2024, just in time for the state’s globally renowned Carnival Calabar and Festival.
