Lagos State governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has renamed the refurbished Onikan Stadium after the late military governor of the State, Brigadier -General Mobolaji Johnson, Completesports.com reports.
The renaming was announced by Sanwo-Olu during an event organised on Tuesday to celebrate the exit of the first Military Governor of Lagos State.
In his address while eulogising the late military ruler, Sanwo-olu announced Onikan Stadium will now be known as the Mobolaji Olufunso Johnson Stadium.
Governor Sanwo-Olu later tweeted about the landmark event on his Twitter platform on Tuesday evening.
“Today, we kicked off the funeral rites of Brig. Gen Mobolaji Johnson, an astute politician and a respected elder statesman,” the Tweet read.
“He was first appointed the Administrator of the Federal Territory of Lagos on January 15, 1966 and later on as Military Governor on May 27, 1967.
“A New Dawn. A New Look. A New Name. The newly renovated Onikan Stadium not only wears a new look, it has also taken on a new identity.
MOBOLAJI OLUFUNSO JOHNSON STADIUM.”
With a capacity of 5000 and located on the southeastern corner of Lagos Island near Tafewa Balewa Square, the original stadium was built in 1930 and six years later named after King George V.
Between 1963 and 1973, it became known as the Lagos City Stadium.
The stadium was one of the venues that hosted matches of the CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations (former Africa Youth Championship) in 1995.
By James Agberebi
