By Jennifer Y Omiloli
Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Edo’s management says it will need about N500 million to build a suitable mini stadium in the school environment in honor of the sporting men and women who graduated from the institution.
The Vice-Chancellor (V-C) of the University, Prof. Ignatius Onimawo, disclosed this to newsmen in Abuja, while speaking on preparations for the institution’s maiden Pillar of Sports Award/Endowment Fund scheduled to hold on Nov. 28 in the university premises.
Onimawo, who was represented by the University’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) Prof. Aigbokhavbolo Oziegbe, said the goal of building the mini stadium was to ensure a steady development of sports in the area and across the country.
The vice-chancellor noted that prominent indigenous Edo, including Super Eagles striker, Odion Ighalo, and renowned boxer Bash Ali, would be honored for their contributions to the state and country’s sport growth.
“We want to begin to reward excellence in sports every year and for this to happen we need infrastructure where people can display their talents; this is why we need a mini stadium and we need N500 million for it to be achieved.
“Ambrose Alli University has come of age; it came into existence in 1981 and since then, it has produced great people for this country, including the First Lady, Mrs Aisha Buhari.
“The institution has also produced men of God among whom is Pastor Chris Oyakhilome. We have many of them all over the world.
“When we came on board, the vice-chancellor had the vision to transform the university in all aspect of its existence; his target was to make the institution the best state university and also to be among the top 10 in the country.
“That, we have achieved in terms of Information Communication Technology (ICT), welfare, academic and sports,” Onimawo said.
