By Aderonke Ojo
The National Sports Commission (NSC) and Emerging Abuja on Thursday have joined forces to develop sports and tourism in the nation’s capital.
This partnership aims to transform Abuja into a world-class city, showcasing its rich culture, sports, and entertainment.
Speaking during a courtesy visit on Thursday in Abuja , the Chairman of NSC, Mallam Shehu Dikko, has expressed enthusiasm for Emerging Abuja’s rebranding initiative, seeing it as aligned with the commission’s vision to establish a sports city in Abuja.
He has praised Emerging Abuja’s initiative to rebrand the city to a world-class status, noting its alignment with the NSC’s vision to establish a sports city in Abuja.
Dikko highlighted the commission’s plans to develop a sports city with entertainment and sports facilities, including hotels, restaurants, and amusement parks.
“ NSC is working to transform the National Stadium into a multipurpose arena, hosting various events beyond football, with the main bowl of the stadium undergoing renovations to accommodate multiple activities.
“Also ,mentioned plans to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Ministry of Arts and Culture to support this initiative.
“ The commission is also engaging with state governments and private sectors to revamp its facilities in Abuja, Lagos, Oyo, and Kaduna,” he said.
On his part, the Chairman of Emerging Abuja, Hon. Kenneth Ibe-Kalu, said that their project to rebrand Abuja as a city focused on tourism, culture, and entertainment, with a “Groovy December” event scheduled from Dec. 15 to Dec. 30.
“ The initiative includes a “Groovy December” event with 35 activities, including concerts, markets, and sports competitions.
“ Emerging Abuja aims to transform the city into a globally connected, culturally rich, and economically dynamic metropolis,” he said.
Dikko and Emerging Abuja’s leadership discussed potential collaborations, with Dikko being unveiled as the patron of the Emerging Abuja Project.
The two parties will work together to realize their shared objectives, including hosting events at the Moshood Abiola Stadium.
A high-level Pre-Launch event for the FCT rebranding vision is scheduled for Aug.25 at the International Conference Centre, Abuja, with the theme “Imagine Abuja: A Vision of Influence and Innovation.”
The event aims to set the tone for the transformational initiative, showcasing Abuja’s potential as a world-class city.
NAN reports that this pre-launch event serves not only as a promotional milestone but as a strategic engagement point for investor , government agencies, cultural institutions, and corporate partners to commit to the future of Abuja as Africa’s most influential capitalist