Governor of Cross River State, Senator Prince Bassey Edet Otu, has launched an ambitious initiative to transform the Calabar Sports Stadium into a premier physical and virtual sports business-tourism facility and creative economy hub, in a strategic push to position the state as a key player in continental trade.
The initiative is designed to leverage the opportunities presented by the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to drive economic growth, empower young people, attract investment and create new platforms for sports, tourism, culture and creative enterprise across Cross River State.
The development followed a high-level two-day strategic engagement in Abuja between the Cross River State Ministry of Sports Development, Believe Klik Communications Limited and various technical partners, where a roadmap for the project was developed.
The proposed transformation will reposition the Calabar Sports Stadium beyond its traditional sporting function by integrating physical and virtual sports, sports tourism, creative markets and digital connectivity into an economic platform capable of connecting local talents and businesses to regional and continental markets.
The Commissioner for Sports Development, Hon. Ambassador Agnes Atsu, was also honoured during the Abuja engagement with the prestigious “FLASH AfCFTA 9JA Elite-Grassroots Ambassador” Award, in recognition of her commitment to youth empowerment and strategic efforts towards positioning Cross River State as a gateway for intra-African trade.
The award, according to the organisers, recognised Atsu’s leadership and dedication to advancing initiatives that connect sports, youth development, tourism and the creative economy with emerging opportunities under the AfCFTA framework. The recognition also highlights the growing role of the Ministry of Sports Development in driving the state’s broader economic development agenda through sports.
Speaking on the initiative, the Chief Executive Officer and FLASH AfCFTA Projects Director, Echera Stephen, said the project demonstrated the potential of sports infrastructure to serve broader economic purposes. “The government’s commitment to this project is a testament to a future where sports infrastructure transcends traditional boundaries, acting as a catalyst for economic growth and creative enterprise,” he said.
The Abuja engagement produced key milestones for implementation, including a comprehensive roadmap for transforming the Calabar Sports Stadium into an interconnected hub for physical and virtual sports tourism and creative markets.
Plans were also advanced for an upcoming State Executive Council (EXCO) briefing and the formal nomination of a dedicated state stakeholders and coordination committee to provide strategic direction and facilitate effective implementation of the project.
According to the project drivers, the Calabar Stadium transformation represents the first phase of the broader FLASH AfCFTA 9JA Discovery Initiative, which is designed to replicate the dual physical-and-virtual hub model across Nigeria’s 774 Local Government Areas and subsequently extend it to other AfCFTA member countries.
Preparations are also underway for a national launch event in Abuja to officially unveil the Calabar Stadium transformation blueprint and introduce the broader FLASH AfCFTA 9JA 774 project before full-scale implementation begins in Cross River State.
By bringing together sports, tourism, culture, creative enterprise and digital connectivity, the initiative is expected to create new opportunities for young people, businesses and creative talents while showcasing Cross River State’s tourism and investment potential to audiences across Africa and beyond.
