The newly upgraded football pitch of St. Micheal African Church Primary School, Otta in Ogun State, Nigeria will definitely create an infectious impression on anyone seeing it for the first time.
The project according was facilitated and executed by the office of Senior Special Assitant on Sustainable Development Goals to President Muhammad Buhari.
The project, an unprecedented edifice of its kind at the level at which it was implemented is a product of the resolve and operations of the SDG’s office in Nigeria under the leadership of the former Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Princess Adejoke Orelope Adefuluire.
Sustainable Development Goals is an action plan of United Nations launched in 2015 by all the countries that has signatory with it.
The documents recognize the potentials of sport as a sector of human endeavour and major tool in achieving all the designed 17 goals which formed the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Accounts show that the pitch normally played host to football competitions in the area before the intervention of the office of the SSA to upgrade it.
While many hope that the edifice after its upgrade will continue to host those competitions and serve as a major tool for community development, others fear that it may also function for public parties, social engagements and non sports activities due to it’s magnificent look which may not be healthy to the nature of the turf and the facilities.
The installed turf which was recognized as Astroturf is also the type hosted by the Agege Stadium and Legacy pitch inside, National Stadium in Lagos.
The facility with its ability to host 500 spectators will in no doubt surely improve football development in Otta and it environs and prepared talents for big stage in the future.
It is also important that a maintenance mechanism and structure is set up in order to always provide the necessary care in maintaining the newly installed facility so that it could stand the test of time.
