From Joseph Amedu, Lokoja
Five Universities drawn from the North Central Geo-Political Zone of Nigeria are currently taking part in the zonal preliminaries of the Nigerian Universities Games (NUGA) hosted by Prince Abubakar Audu University, Anyigba.
The Universities involved in the elimination rounds tagged “Zone H Preliminaries” are the Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai, Federal University of Technology, Minna, University of Abuja, Nile University, Abuja, Federal University, Lokoja, and the host Prince Abubakar Audu University, Anyigba.
In her address at the opening ceremony, the Vice-Chancellor, Prince Abubabar Audu University, Professor Marietu Ohunene Tenuche, expressed delight for the opportunity to host the Zone H of the NUGA preliminaries.
She disclosed that promotion of sporting activities has been a cardinal priority of the University administration since since she came on board in 2020, stressing that apart from the health and long term monetary benefits, the University considers the immediate implication which is the diversion of students’ attention from crimes and criminalities.
Among the areas of improvement highlighted by the Vice-Chancellor include the completion and unveiling of the basketball, volleyball and lawn tennis courts located directly opposite the University Stadium and the rehabilitation of the badminton, squash courts and the swimming pool located at the University Staff Club.
Professor Tenuche also informed participants that Work on the Handball court was at the advanced stage of completion.
The Vice-Chancellor further informed the gathering that the University successfully staged the 2021 edition of the Inter-Faculty sports competition as part of its commitment to the growth of sports, adding that the efforts have been able to meaningfully engage the students at their leisure hours. She promised to ensure that the competition remains an annual event in the University.
She used the occasion to commend some members of staff and other sports enthusiasts who have been strongly involved in the promotion of sporting activities on campus.
Among those she mentioned include the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration), Professor Olusola Jamiu Saliu, Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic), Dr Daniel Friday Atidoga, Professor Felix Enegho of the Faculty of Arts and Humanities, the Chairman of the University Sports Council, Dr Olanrewaju Makinde, the Acting Director of Sports, Comrade Moses Balogun and the entire coaching crew and officials of the Sports Directorate.
She thanked them for their physical, moral and financial contributions to the growth of sports in the University.
She expressed the hope that the spirit of friendliness which is an integral aspect of sports would be strengthened among participating athletes and officials at the end of the competition.
The Zone H Preliminaries which commenced on Wednesday, 16th February is expected to end on Friday, 17th February, 2022. Athletes who qualify from the zone will join qualifiers from 14 other zones to vie for laurels at the Nigerian Universities Games scheduled for 16th – 26th March, 2022, at the University of Lagos.