Nyesom Wike, the governor of Rivers State, on Monday, October 16, 2017 visited Real Madrid Football Club training facility in Spain.
Governor Wike, who is scheduled to meet the president of Real Madrid Florentino Pérez on Tuesday to formalise Rivers State government and the Spanish club’s agreement on the establishment of a football academy in the state.
According to pictures and reports circulated on the social media on Monday, the Governor met with Cristiano Ronaldo and Real Madrid captain, Sergio Ramos and officials of the La liga club as he toured the training facilities of Real Madrid Football Club.
Wike was accompanied by the Rivers State commissioner of sports, Boma Iyaye, former Nigerian international, Adokiye Amiesimaka and vice president of Interact Sports, Kazma.
The officials of Real Madrid club guided the governor on the tour of the Real Madrid Training Facility.
In a chat with the Real Madrid stars, Ronaldo and Ramos, Wike said that the objective of setting up the Real Madrid Academy in Rivers State is to develop stars that would rule the world in the nearest future.
“We are using football as one of the key empowerment programs for the next generation. We want to grow international football stars from a tender age.
“We will tap from the experience and exposure of Real Madrid and their stars. This is a project that will revolutionise football in Rivers State and Nigeria,” Mr. Wike noted.
He assured that the academy to be established in the state will be of international standard and will take into consideration the education of the children.
Cristiano Ronaldo and Sergio Ramos lauded Mr. Wike for his commitment to the development of the game of football.
