August 17, (THEWILL) – The hope of Lobi Stars football club to play the 2024/2025 NPFL matches at home is high, following directives by governor Hyacinth Alia to the contractor to complete work at the Aper Aku township stadium Makurdi in eight weeks time.
The Governor, who gave the directive while addressing Summit of Media Directors Forum in Makurdi, also said the state will soon become a sporting huh of the nation.
He pedged to make Aku stadium to be of world class standard for the hosting of national and international events.
“Benue is going to be a sports hub of the nation in a very short time from now. Within one year, we revived governor’s cup, sponsorship of Benue contingent to national game”.
According to him, his administration has also ensure timely payment of allowances to players of Lobi Stars and released four vehicles to enhence their movements.
The governor disclosed that the Gboko township stadium, which used to host the defunct BCC Lions FC is no longer on the ladder must be brought back as soon as possible.
While promising to support the Media Summit Directors to suceed, he call on them to seen Benue as their home for their events, and thanked the organisers for the choice of the state for their maiden meeting.
In his remarks, the Commissioner for Sports and Creativity, Mr Terkimbi Ikyange, commended the governor for uplifting sorts sector in the past one year in office through timely releases of funds.
He assured that the ministry has mobilise Benue youths to support Government programmes and engaged them in various skills acquisitions to be self reliant.
Earlier, the Chief Operating Officer of the NPFL, Davidson Owumi, noted that the summit for the forum of Media Directors of football clubs was to enhence their skills in projecting the image of their clubs and the NPFL.
He said the game of football is capable of reducing criminality in the country as during sessions, even criminals suspend their nefarious acts to watch the game.
According to him, NPFL is out to ensure that playing pitches meet International standard in the country and commended governor Alia for what he has done so far and intend to do for sports development in the state.
In his speech, the Coordinator of Forum of Media Directors, Comrade Amos Eche, described the appointment of Mr Dominic Iorfa, as the Executive Vice Chairman of Lobi Stars FC as a positive development.
He also applauded the governor for the ongoing renovation of Aper Aku township stadium to International standard.
High lights at the ceremony was the installation of governor Alia as the grand patron of the forum, while various experts presented papers on the do and don’t for the twenty delegates that constitutes Media Officers in the NPFL.
