Barcelona Football Club to Open Academy in Nigeria

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, monday welcomed the decision of Barcelona Football Club (FC) of Spain to establish its first Football Academy in Africa in Lagos, just as he pledged the maximum support of the government in ensuring the successful take off of the project.
 Governor Ambode, who spoke at the Lagos House in Ikeja while receiving senior management staff of the football club, said he was delighted with the development, as it was in sync with his administration's philosophy for sports development.

According to him, "this visit by FC Barcelona is coming at a point where I believe strongly that we have nothing else to say than to say we are committed into this partnership because we know the partnership will give us the first FCBEscola in Africa. I was made to understand that this is the first of its kind in Africa and so Lagos is priding itself as a major receptor of the next academy to be established in Africa

"I know that this will create a very good platform for youth development, grassroots empowerment and also for the value of sportsmanship. We share the same values with FC Barcelona which are respect, courage, humility, social integration and community service.

 On his part, Oscar Grau, Worldwide Director of Barcelona Academy, said it was indeed a big honour for the club to establish its Academy in Lagos, as many of the big names in the team started from such Academy.