Rivers Government Renames Liberation Stadium After Gowon

The Rivers State Government has renamed the Liberation Stadium, Port Harcourt, as the Yakubu Gowon Stadium, Port Harcourt, in honour of former Head of State, Yakubu Gowon.

The 30,000 capacity stadium which has been serving as home ground for Nigeria Premier League side, Dolphins FC, for over two decades has also hosted matches involving the various national teams including the Super Eagles.

The Super Eagles actually adopted the Port Harcourt Stadium as their home ground in the run to the 2002 World Cup and ex-international Garba Lawal described the venue as one of the best he ever played across the country.

A multisport edifice, the stadium has both sections of blue and red seating.

The Rivers State Government also renamed the Old Aba road in Port Harcourt as Yakubu Gowon Road in further recognition of the former president.

In a statement on Sunday signed by Simeon Nwakaudu, Special Assistant to the Rivers State Governor on Electronic Media, the Rivers State Government renamed the stadium and the road to honour General Yakubu Gowon for creating Rivers State in 1967.

The Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, on Saturday during a meeting with General Yakubu Gowon and officials of Nigeria Prays declared that the Rivers State Government will immortalise the former Head of State for his role in the creation of the state.