Former President Goodluck Jonathan has called for the creation of a pension fund for retired athletes who have brought honour to Nigeria during the groundbreaking ceremony of a 25,000-capacity Olympic stadium in Igbogene, Yenagoa, The KUKURUKU reports.
Speaking at the event, which was part of activities marking Governor Douye Diri’s five years in office, Jonathan lamented that many Nigerian athletes who won international medals often end up destitute after retirement.
I always feel sad when I see people who have promoted the name Nigeria and gone for international games, either the Commonwealth or Olympics, and win medals, immediately after, there are all kinds of ceremonies, but after that, they are forgotten,” Jonathan said.
After some years, some of them become almost beggars, even to feed, and that doesn’t encourage young people to put all their lives into sports.
The former president urged the National Sports Commission to consider establishing such a fund at both national and state levels, emphasizing that it should be managed by reputable individuals to support athletes throughout their lives.
We must make sure that anybody who made the country proud should be taken care of until that person dies, and that will encourage young men and women to invest 100 per cent of their skills and lives into sports,” he added.
Jonathan also expressed hope that he would accompany President Bola Tinubu to commission the stadium upon its completion in 24 months, recalling that in the past, it was difficult to find stadia that met FIFA standards for international matches.
Governor Douye Diri, in his remarks, described the project as a transformative advancement that would reshape the state’s identity beyond sports, generating economic opportunities and providing jobs.
He called for increased sponsorship from the Niger Delta Development Commission, banks, financial institutions, and international oil companies, similar to sponsorship models in Europe and America.
This facility will serve as an inspiration for our youth – a place where dreams can take flight, talent can be cultivated, and champions can arise,” Diri said.
The Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Shehu Dikko, the president of the Nigeria Football Federation, Ibrahim Gusau, and FIFA committee member, Amaju Pinnick, pledged their support to ensure the project meets international standards.
Bayelsa State’s Commissioner for Sports, Dr Daniel Igali, noted that when completed, the ultra-modern stadium would serve as a hub for sports and entertainment, including live concerts, positioning Bayelsa to become a dominant force in sports across Africa.
The stadium, to be constructed by New Mutual Company, is designed to be expandable and is expected to be completed within 24 months.
