Ambode Receives Cricket World CupTrophy in Lagos
The Governor of Lagos State, Akinwunmi Ambode, yesterday played host to the Cricket World Cup trophy.
The trophy, which has been on a global tour of cities ahead of the 2019 Cricket World Cup which would hold in the United Kingdom in June, arrived Nigeria through Abuja on Monday. The governor received it at his office in Alausa, Ikeja.
“I think a lot of people don’t understand cricket deeply because it has a lot of values that can be learnt from it. As a former cricketer way back in secondary school, I appreciate the game and I look forward to seeing more young people learn from the game,” observed the governor.
Governor Akinbode said he is very pleased that the International Cricket Council (ICC) picked Lagos as the only state apart from the Federal Capital City (FCT) that hosted cricket’s most prized silverware in the country.
“It is indeed an honour to be the only Governor to host the trophy in the country,” he enthused.
President of the Nigeria Cricket Federation (NCF), Professor Yahaya Ukwenya had earlier in his opening remarks referred to the state as the “Cricket Capital” of Nigeria.
He cited the support from the state to the game as one of the reasons that earned it the federation’s commendations that encouraged the international body to select Nigeria as one of the three destinations in Africa during the Cricket World Cup Trophy Tour
“We are indeed very grateful for the support that Lagos State has extended to the federation and it is one of the reasons we are enjoying this rare privilege of hosting the Trophy,“the NCF president said.
The Trophy would be on display at the Tafawa Balewa Cricket Oval on Lagos Island today, where sports enthusiasts and members of the cricket community would have the opportunity to see the trophy and take pictures with it.