Residents of Eziowelle in Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State erupted in celebration on Tuesday as the Nigerian Navy commissioned a new multipurpose outdoor sports arena aimed at empowering youths, promoting healthy recreation and strengthening community development.
The facility, built under the Chief of the Naval Staff Special Intervention Quick Impact Project and facilitated by Rear Admiral Emmanuel Anakwe, comprises a modern sports arena, restrooms and a changing-room complex.
Commissioning the project, the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abbas, described the intervention as timely and impactful, saying it would provide young people with a safe space for sporting and social activities while helping to curb youth restiveness and other social vices.
Represented by the Chief of Communications and Information Technology, Rear Admiral Semiu Adepegba, Abbas said the project reflected the Navy’s commitment to improving the welfare of host communities and strengthening civil-military relations across the country.
He commended Rear Admiral Anakwe for identifying a critical need in his community and effectively utilising funds provided under the Quick Impact Project scheme.
“His vision, dedication and commitment to community development are clearly reflected in the successful execution of this project. Leadership becomes more meaningful when it positively impacts the lives of others,” Abbas said.
He also praised the Anambra State Government, local government authorities, traditional rulers, community leaders, contractors and other stakeholders for supporting the successful completion of the project.
The Naval Chief urged residents to protect and maintain the facility to ensure that it serves future generations.
Representing Governor Chukwuma Soludo at the event, the Commissioner for Sports and Youth Development, Patrick Agha Mba, described the project as a powerful reminder that community development is a shared responsibility between government and citizens.
He applauded Rear Admiral Anakwe for giving back to his hometown, saying the initiative embodied the state’s “Think Home” philosophy, which encourages Ndi Anambra, both at home and in the diaspora, to invest in their communities.
According to him, sports remain one of the most effective tools for engaging young people, discovering talent, promoting healthy living and fostering unity.
“This arena is proof that when you think home, home grows. We encourage other well-meaning individuals and organisations to emulate this gesture by investing in schools, hospitals, markets and sports facilities across our communities,” he said.
Earlier, the project facilitator, Rear Admiral Emmanuel Anakwe, said the sports arena represented a significant step towards youth empowerment, healthy recreation, and community development, in line with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
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He explained that the Chief of Naval Staff’s Quick Impact Project was designed to improve critical infrastructure in the hometowns of senior naval officers while strengthening the bond between the Nigerian Navy and the communities they serve.
For Anakwe, however, the project carried a deeper personal meaning.
He dedicated the facility to the memory of his late father, Rear Commander Emmanuel Chukwuma Anakwe, a former Nigerian Navy officer and captain of Nigeria’s national football team, the Red Devils, between 1956 and 1958.
According to him, his father devoted his life to serving the country, his community and the game of football, while instilling in his children the values of discipline, teamwork and servant leadership.
“This arena is my way of saying thank you, Daddy. Thank you for the values. Thank you for the example,” he said.
The commissioning attracted government officials, traditional rulers, community leaders, military officers and residents, who hailed the project as a landmark intervention that would provide young people with a platform to nurture their talents and contribute positively to society.
