Published January 22
By Chinwendu Eugene.T.
The Governor of Enugu state, Governor Peter Mbah has closed a deal with the Del-York Group for the landmark project, named “The 042 Arena and Entertainment Park”, which is a multi-purpose sports and entertainment hub.
The partnership initiative with Del-York International Group is designed to focus on key areas of development, training, innovation, education, talent discovery, hospitality, entertainment among other areas of interests.
Addressing the Governor and other key stakeholders, the Chief Executive Officer of Del-York, Linus Idahosa, said Enugu State was considered strategic for the launch of the project for various reasons, including its tourist attractions, the efforts of the state government in fostering growth and development of sports and entertainment industries in the south east zone which had already received global recognition.
“We feel that today is a very special day in the annals of Nigerian history for so many reasons such as the roles that Enugu State government and the South East have played in the development and growth of the creative industry and sports industry across the world. For His Excellency to have taken the initiative to begin a project of this kind that seeks to create an environment that will foster the growth and development of sports and entertainment industries for the Southeastern region is an incredible effort that deserves praise globally.
“We are happy as a group to be in partnership with the state, and we are happy to be here to sign this joint venture agreement with the state for the sports and Entertainment Park we are to set up. We are also very thankful for the speed at which members of your cabinet have worked tirelessly round the clock in ensuring that we come to where we are today,” the Del-York CEO stressed.
He lauded the government for the support it was giving the group, saying the state had shown seriousness in making the state a hub of investment and attractive to investors, adding “I am sure that this marks a totally different trajectory for the development of the industry that we are here for. We believe that building on the strengths of placing the rich heritage of sports and entertainment within the state at the epicentre of its development strategy, the possibilities of the future are limitless.”
On his part, Mr. Frank Pastorino, an EVP Development investor with Del-York Group, said the country, and Enugu State in particular, has extra-ordinary potential and wealth of opportunities specifically in areas of sports and creative industries which the rest of the world should pay special attention.
