NAN-S-18
Upgrading
By Olayinka Owolewa
Ilorin, Jan. 9, 2018 (NAN) The Kwara State Government is to upgrade facilities at the baseball and softball pitch at Adewole Estate in Ilorin to meet international standards and usage for trade fair.
The state’s Commissioner for Youths and Sports, Kale Ayo, told newsmen on Tuesday in Ilorin that the state governor, Abdulfatah Ahmed, has already given approval for the renovation.
“This revovation is expected to commence very soon,’’ he said.
Ayo said the major essence of the pitch’s upgrading was for it to serve as venue for the forthcoming trade fair in the state.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the fair is being organised by the Kwara State Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (KWACCIMA).
The commissioner that that after the upgrading, the baseball pitch would also be used for other useful purposes.
Reacting to the development, the President of KWACCIMA, Ahmed Raji, said he was overwhelmed that the governor had conceded to their request for the use of the pitch for the fair.
He also commended the state government for agreeing to upgrade the facilities.
Raji disclosed that all hands were on deck to ensure that a trade fair of international standard was organised.
He said this was to further expose the state’s potential and open up the country and bring in more investors.
“Various committees shall soon be put in place to work towards ensuring a hitch-free `2018 Kwara State International Trade Fair’ which is expected to hold by the middle of this year,’’ the KWACCIMA president said.
NAN reports that the pitch was built in 1990 by the Federal Government at the cost of N50m and commissioned by the then Vice-President, Augustus Aikhomu.
For sometime however, the pitch has fallen into disrepair as the roofing has almost entirely gone and the fence has broken down.
The walls are also coming down and the paints completely peeling off the walls of the pitch.(NAN)
OOH/OIF/OLAL
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(Edited by Ifeyinwa Okonkwo and Olawale Alabi)