Nigeria: Arena in Rema’s hometown to be named after Afrobeats star

Rema, who hails from Benin City, was present at the groundbreaking ceremony last week, which coincided with his homecoming concert at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium. The new arena is situated at the former Garrick Memorial School Ground on Ekehuan Road.

Obaseki said that the arena will host a range of events, from music concerts to major conferences, and added that it will bring more visitors to the state, enhance the exposure of its cultural offerings, and provide job opportunities for young residents.

“When we came into government in 2016, we didn’t have a venue for events but rather we were hiring canopies for events and renting places for large events, especially when we invited people from outside the state,” he said. “It became clear that we needed to have a venue where we could host large events.

“In the course of our planning, we realised that Edo has a unique advantage. They don’t call us the heartbeat of Nigeria for nothing. Edo enjoys tremendous traffic as most Nigerians pass through Edo State and we noticed that it’s a huge economic advantage for us. We have the capacity to host national events and attract all Nigerians here. We made strategic plans as we began to promote our culture and position ourselves to attract more people to our State.”

“I am happy to be here. I thank the Edo people for their prayers and support,” Rema said at the ceremony attended by a host of dignitaries, including the commissioner for tourism, arts, culture, and diaspora affairs, Uyi Oduwa Malaka. “I am proud of the state, especially the growth recorded so far. I am proud of the togetherness, passion, and zeal to make it greater.

“I am proud of the youth and ready to take part in anything that will drive the youth, strengthen them, and motivate them. This is a blessing, and I will ensure that this project is completed successfully.”

Rema, signed to the Don Jazzy-led Mavin Records, is currently among Afribeats’ leading names. He is best known for his global hit 'Calm Down', with a remix featuring Selena Gomez, which last year became the first Afrobeats-led record to achieve 1 billion Spotify streams.

Rema is behind two albums, namely 2022’s Rave & Roses and HEIS, released back in July.