By Dipo Olowookere
A not-for-profit organization known as Atlantic Hall Educational Trust Council is planning to situate a N3 billion ultra-modern sports centre in Lagos State.
The facility to be called the Atlantic Hall Sports Complex is dedicated to grassroots sports development and early talent discovery. It will be located in the Epe area of the aquatic state.
The Atlantic Hall Sports Complex comprises five football pitches, 8-lane tartan track, 1000 square meter multi-purpose indoor sports hall, basketball court, six lawn tennis courts, volleyball and handball courts, gymnasium, pavilion, 1200-capacity bleacher and an Olympic size swimming pool.
This is in addition to a 1500-seater hall, changing rooms, vendor stands, toilet and other ancillary facilities.
According to Atlantic Hall Sports Complex Committee Chairman, Mrs Maureen Akpofure-Awobokun, “The sports complex, designed to international standards, is conceived to compete with any of its kind worldwide.”
She said “when completed, it will be a source of pride to all Nigerians and Africans at large.”
“The Atlantic Hall Sports Complex is not just a vision of constructing world-class facilities for sports. This vision is about Building a Legacy of Champions in Africa,” Mrs Akpofure-Awobokun added, noting that “We are faced with our own choice today; the choice to support the vision of the Atlantic Hall Sports Complex or not. The choice to take the lead in the regeneration of the Nigerian educational sports sector or not…”
The primary aims of the sports complex, according to Atlantic Hall Educational Trust Council, include promotion of early talent discovery, grassroots youth development, healthy living among young people and to serve as an efficient way to engage young people to curb crime and other related vices such as drug abuse.
More details about the initiative can be found on www.atlantichallsportscomplex.org