Akinwumi Ambode, former governor of Lagos, joined other prominent persons on Sunday for the commissioning of the turf wicket of the Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS) Cricket Oval in the state.
The news comes nearly 18 months after the facility was closed to allow for the transition from concrete to grass bowling lanes.
Ambode remarked that if cricket’s potentials are effectively utilized, it may contribute significantly to a country’s socio-economic growth.
He went on to say that the facility’s upgrading would help Nigeria’s cricket development efforts.
“I think critical to success in any endeavor in life are the soft skills that cricket teaches and we are very happy at the recent uptick in cricket development in Nigeria,” he said.
“This turf wicket compliments all the efforts of the administration in growing the sport and I believe we would in no time feel its impact.”
On his part, Osato Giwa-Osagie challenged cricketers and stakeholders to pull resources together to promote the growth of the sport.
“This ground holds a lot of memories and mean much to the history of Nigeria and cricket and I am glad at the development it has undergone,” he said.
Also speaking, Uyi Akpata, president of Nigeria Cricket Federation (NCF), said the revamped facility would increase the number of top flight cricket grounds in the country to seven in just one year.
“Facility upgrade scores very high on our agenda and the TBS oval is very critical in that sphere as it is Nigeria’s frontline facility,” he said.
Highlights of the event include two commemorative games played to mark the occasion.
The first game was between selected present and past national team players and the elite cricketers in the country.
The second game involved cricket veterans over the age of 50 and it featured several invited cricket stakeholders and ex-internationals across Nigeria.
Ojelabi, the publisher of Freelanews, is an award winning and professionally trained mass communicator and a recipient of the D9112 Superstar Icon Award, who writes ruthlessly about pop culture, religion, politics and entertainment.
