Veritas University, Abuja, has announced plans to construct a multi-million-naira ultra-modern sports complex for its host community and neighbouring communities as part of efforts to engage youths and reduce their vulnerability to crime.

The Vice Chancellor of the University, Rev. Fr. Prof. Hyacinth Ichoku, disclosed this when he received the Councillor representing Bwari Central Ward in the Bwari Area Council, Hon. Caleb Danladi, during a courtesy visit to the institution.

Ichoku said the project was part of the university’s corporate social responsibility initiatives aimed at empowering young people in its host communities and providing them with productive avenues to channel their talents and energy.

According to a statement signed by the university’s Head, Corporate Affairs and Communications, Ben Agande, the VC noted that the area was home to many talented young people who could benefit from structured sporting activities and facilities.

He said: “We have very many young men and women in our host community and the adjoining communities that we want to assist.

“One of the things we want to do as part of our corporate social responsibility is to construct an ultra-modern sports complex for our host community that will serve other surrounding communities.”

The Vice Chancellor added that engaging young people through sports would help keep them away from criminal and other negative activities.

“We believe that when you engage youths through sports, they will not have too much time on their hands to engage in other negative things.”

Ichoku therefore appealed to the councillor to work with community leaders to identify suitable land for the project, describing it as a legacy project that would benefit not only the immediate host community but neighbouring communities as well.

“As our representative, I want you to liaise with the leaders of our community and the surrounding community to provide us with land that we can construct this legacy project. We will be happy as a university to do this for our host community,” he added

The Vice Chancellor said the university had also undertaken other interventions for the host community, including employment opportunities and scholarships for indigent students.

He said the university was currently sponsoring students from the host community on full scholarships, adding that it would continue to provide such opportunities within the limits of available resources.

“We believe that we need to empower young men and women from the host community so that they too can become better members of society.”

The VC reaffirmed the university’s commitment to sustaining its corporate social responsibility programmes and strengthening its relationship with the communities around the institution.

Earlier, Danladi said his visit was aimed at familiarising himself with the university’s leadership and exploring opportunities for greater cooperation and collaboration between the institution and the host community.

He commended the university for providing employment opportunities for members of the community and pledged to facilitate discussions with community leaders on securing land for the proposed sports complex.

The councillor promised to liaise with leaders of the host and neighbouring communities to ensure that the university’s proposed sports facility could be realised.

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