FIFA, NFF inaugurate $1.19m mini-stadium in Kebbi State

The Federation of International Football Association (FIFA) and Nigerian Football Federation (NFF), have inaugurated a $1.19 million mini-stadium to promote grassroots football development in Kebbi State, North-Western Nigeria.

Kebbi State remains one of Nigeria’s most remote parts and FIFA through its FIFA Forward programme aims at giving kids a chance to play football on a top-class stadium. The foundation of the project located on Kalgo Road in Birnin Kebbi was laid in September, 2020 by former Governor Atiku Bagudu supported by NFF.

While inaugurating the stadium on Friday, Kebbi State Governor Nasir Idris, emphasised the need to engage youths in useful ventures to keep them healthy and relevant to the society. He said that his administration is considering the revival of Annual Sports Festival and would continue to support clubs and associations to excel.

Idris was represented by Safiyanu Garba-Bena, the Head of Service (HoS). He thanked the General Secretary of NFF, Sanusi Muhammad, who facilitated the citing of the project in collaboration with NFF President, Ibrahim Gusau as well as Chairman of the state Football Association, Abubakar Chika-Ladan, for their efforts.

He appealed to the State football association and NFF to make the State a centre for the National Football League to develop football talents. The governor assured of the readiness of his administration to assist and partner in the development of football and every other sports in the state.

Earlier, the Head of Department, Programmes Africa FIFA, Solomon Mudege, assured of FIFA’s commitment to invest in male and female football development in the country.

Also speaking, NFF President Gusau, identified lack of facilities as one of the challenges hindering youth sports development in the country.

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“We are going to do more to increase the facilities for the stadium to be of standard than its now,” Gusau said.

“We are not going to let the youth down and I urge them to come back to help others that are coming up if they have the opportunities outside the country.”

The NFF president thanked Bagudu and Idris for their efforts in developing football in the state and ensuring the completion of the project.