About 106 universities are expected to participate in the forthcoming 26th edition of Nigerian University Games Association (NUGA) games to be hosted by the University of Lagos in November 2019.
The Vice Chancellor of the university, Professor Oluwatoyin T. Ogundipe disclosed this on Wednesday when he led a delegation of the University’s principal officers to the Southwest regional office of Media Trust Limited in Lagos.
“The first time we hosted NUGA games was in 1968, the second time was in 1978 and the third one in 1998. So we are hosting it 21years after the last one. Our desire is to have the best and memorable NUGA games ever,” he said.
The University had in November 2018 signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the NUGA, which signalled the official commencement of preparations for the tournament.
According to him, the tournament seeks to expose athletes to international competition.
“People like Owolabi came out from the 1978 competition. Also, in 1998, we had an Assistant Commissioner of Police, Chioma Ajunwa, who came out of that competition.
“At the last commonwealth games, one of our students came third in the 100metres competition. Sport is also a unifying force irrespective of age, religion, status and ethnicity,” he said.
Commenting on the level of preparedness, Prof. Ogundipe said, efforts are on to have an excellent tournament and ensure that the facilities meet international standard.
The contractor, according to him, is about completing the swimming pool with the digital timing instrument, which will be used during the competition.
“We are talking to some of our friends that will assist us concerning the track, field and other facilities that will be needed for the competition.
“For the athletes, we are hitting the ground running. We are keeping up to the rule of not bringing in machineries. Our El-Kanemi hall will soon be completed. It is a new three storey building that will be completed in the next three to four months as the Nigerian Ports Authority has supported us to furnish some of the rooms, so that facility will be available for the athletes.
“In terms of readiness in relation to the facility we have, it’s not the best for now but by June next year, we would have gone far,” the VC said.
Prof. Ogundipe also sought the collaboration of the media house in the area of awareness creation.
In a remark, the General Manager of Southern Operations, Media Trust Limited, Mr. Ademola Oladosu assured him of the company’s readiness to partner with the University.
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