Everest Ezihe, Owerri
As part of his age long vision in grassroot sports development, Hon. Innocent Onwubiko has advanced plans to invest a whopping sum of 10 billion Naira in a historical first of its kind privately owned multi billion Naira sporting academy complex in Ngor- Okpala council area of Imo State.
Onwubiko who disclosed this on Sunday, April 4, 2021, at the Okpala site of the Academy while briefing members of Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) Imo State Chapter led by Rotn. Everest Ezihe on the programmes earmarked for unveiling of the complex football club and showcasing the progress so far made in building the first ever Imo State privately owned ultra modern Stadium within the massive complex.
He informed that the complex is named as Onwubiko International Soccer Academy (OISA) while the stadium within the complex when completed will carry a minimum of 35,000 seated FIFA capacity approved sentatic playing field with tantan tracks, two five stars hotel, hostels, indoor and outdoor games, classroom blocks, shopping maul etc.
Onwubiko who said he is driven by his youthful passion in contributing towards the sustenance of the growth and development of sports in Imo State and Nigeria at large.
He decried the recent ranking drop of the nation’s age groups football like the Flying Eagles and the Eaglets as unfortunate.
On why he is building such money spilling investments in his rural community instead of urban areas considering its commercial advantages, he said that he is being propelled by an Igbo adage that says charity begins at home ( Aku ruo ulo).
He appealed to other privileged Nigerians to invest in sports informing that sports aids a lot in jettisoning social vices and creates meaningful employment opportunities.
