Delt State in South South region of Nigeria now has a leisure Park and film village.
A former Vice-president of Nigeria and Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, during commissioned the facility, which is named the ‘Maryam Babangida Leisure Park’ in Asaba, the Delta State capital.
The park has an amphitheatre, a recreation centre, a volleyball court, pool, film village and zoo among others.
Speaking at the event, Atiku commended Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, who is his running mate in next month’s presidential election, for contributing to the growth and development of tourism in the country.
“What makes this event special is the naming of this place after Mrs. Maryam Babangida.
“This is because she was a lady who introduced very historic programmes in the lives of our women, particularly rural women.
“For those who are not old enough to remember, she was the founder and initiator of Better Life For Rural Women,” he added.
Okowa, in his remarks, said that naming the park after late Mrs. Babangida was to recognise her contributions to Asaba community and the larger society.
He lauded the creative industry for its inputs leading to the construction of a Film Village alongside the Leisure Park and Zoo.
He said that Delta had become the next tourism destination in the country.
“We decided to name the park after our great mother because of the impact she made on humanity.“
And I am glad that her son, Mohammed, is here today to witness the inauguration of the facility,” the governor said.
Industry stakeholders present at the inauguration included Zeb Ejiro, Tony Akposheri, Ali Baba, Francis Agoda, and a host of others.