UNILAG Eager to Host Memorable NUGA 2022, Says Prof Ogundipe

The 26th edition of the Nigerian University Games Association (NUGA) will be held at the University of Lagos (UNILAG) between March 16th and 27th, next year.

The new date was proposed by the university and agreed to by the members of the NUGA council.

In creating a memorable university Games in Nigeria, the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos, Professor Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, assured members of the NUGA executive committee of a hitch-free cosmopolitan games that will set a trend for other hosts of the university games going forward.

“We appreciate the fact that NUGA awarded to us the hosting rights, though we were not the only ones who showed interest.

However, due to issues beyond our control, especially in 2020 where the world was at stand still for so many months and all other unfortunate events that followed thereafter, we are slightly behind in some areas of the hosting.”

Prof Ogundipe stated that despite the fact the some of the required facilities were yet to be completed, “I want to assure you that things will be faster now based on the commitment we have from several places. What we have done is get those who are committed to get involved with these facilities.”

The UNILAG vice chancellor further assured the NUGA executive committee that his university hopes to put up a “Lagos City Games” that would create commerce and engagement across the neighboring areas of the schools location in Akoka.

“We are bringing Lagos State in and we hope to gain the adequate support for facilities, logistics and security. I am sure we will get all the required support,” Professor Ogundipe announced with confidence.

In his remark, the NUGA President, Professor Stephen Hamafyelto, thanked the Vice Chancellor for his gracious reception of the committee members and enjoins the University to keep to its promise of putting out a NUGA games in 2022.

The NUGA hosting rights was gained by the Lagos based university in 2017 during the closing ceremony of the Games at the Federal University of Agriculture in Makurdi and was scheduled for 2019.

After an initial postponement to 2020, the games were once again halted due to the Covid-19 pandemic that disrupted sporting activities across the globe.

Over 500 athletes from 85 universities are expected to converge on the university for the Games.