Akiga’s Royal Choice institutes N10m basketball tourney in UNIBEN

Secures 25-year hospitality lease deal with school
Winners in the annual Prof Faraday Orumwense basketball tourney for men and women at the University of Benin, Edo State will share from a N10 million largesse provided by Choice Leisure Limited, owners of Royal Choice Inn.

Former Nigeria basketball international and Chairman, Choice Leisure Limited, Felix Akiga made the disclosure at the formal signing ceremony of a 25-year lease agreement with the University of Benin on Friday that saw them take over the University Guest House.

The firm also donated basketball, volleyball, handball and football kits alongside two trophies for men and women with a cash prize of N150, 000 each annually for winners of the basketball tourney for the period of the lease. He also donated N100, 000 each to the Students Union Government, Academic Staff Union of Nigerian Universities (ASUU) and Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU).

Akiga said the gesture was part of his company’s corporate social responsibility, adding, “with the formal agreement signed for Royal Choice Inn to takeover the management of the University Guest House, we are not just here for business but to also touch the lives of students hence the donation of the sports equipment to the University.

“However, basketball, being my core sport, will enjoy an annual tournament in the name of the Vice Chancellor with cash prizes to be presented by him annually till the end of the lease agreement.

“Royal Choice Inn, University of Benin will witness a new look that will provide guests with modern facilities, swimming pool, fitness center as well as a conference center that will attract seminars, lectures and more to the benefit of the University in terms of revenue generation.”

Speaking at the event, Uniben’s Vice Chancellor, Prof. Faradey Orumwense noted that the decision to bring Royal Choice Inn was influenced by the fact that the university needed to get extra funds to enable her take care of their needs.

“We, as a body have seen the class and standard of Royal Choice Inn in other parts of the country and believe it can be replicated here in University of Benin. The bottom line here is that we need to increase our IGR too because there is so much to be taken care off. I also want to thank the chairman of the company for the sports donation. It will go a long way to keep our students busy and active in sports.”