Soludo commends Rojenny boss’ contribution to sports, promises partnership

Chukwuma Soludo, governor of Anambra, has commended Rommy Ezeonwuka, Managing Director of Rojenny Stadium and Games Village, Oba, near Onitsha, for his vision for sports development in Nigeria and Anambra in particular.

Soludo said this through Patrick-Estate Onyedum, Chairman of Anambra Sports Development Commission (ASDC), when he visited Rojenny Stadium and Games Village, Oba, on Thursday as part of his tour of private sports facilities in the state.

Onyedum, who visited with his management team, said there were a number of areas the state could partner with Rojenny in view of the administration’s resolve to develop grassroots sports and create a sports economy.

According to him, “I want to commend the Rojenny Managing Director who built this facility about four decades ago. This can only be done by somebody who has the love of youths and society at heart.

“We hope to partner with Rojenny and that we shall work out when we get home because facilities here are still of high quality despite the age,” he said.

In his presentation, Ezeonwuka said his vision was that Anambra and indeed Nigeria would have overtaken Jamaica in athletics and Brazil in football but noted that his biggest regret was the sustained degeneration of the facility due to lack of use.

Ezeonwuka who was represented by Victor Nwangwu, Acting Chairman, Rojenny Stadium Management Committee, said the stadium is large enough to host any size of competition up to the national level and could be a ground for regenerating of athletes.

He said the partnership with the Anambra government is important as no individual could manage facility of that magnitude alone.

“The government can come in from everyone where, as far as sports is concerned, an individual cannot manage facility or club in Nigeria, government cannot even do it alone, so this partnership is seriously important.

“The place is vast, there are areas for development and there are facilities already like Olympic-size swimming pool, handball courts, basketball courts, basketball courts, tennis, volleyball, football pitch, hotel, hostels and indoor hall,” he said.

He thanked Soludo for his interest in partnering with the private sector and Rojenny in particular while assuring that the establishment is ready to work

On his part, Oluyomi Sule, a veteran national athlete and consultant to the commission, said he was impressed with the standard Handball Court at the facility which was the first he has seen in Anambra.

He said the facility should not be allowed to rot away but be turned to a sports hub in the Southeast.