The 26th edition of the Nigerian University Games Association (NUGA) games have ended on Saturday evening with the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT) for the fifth time, including the 24th and 25th editions, won the First Prize while the University of Lagos (UNILAG), the host university, and the Nile University of Nigeria, Abuja, won the Second and Third Prize, respectively.
Benson Idahosa University, Edo State won the Best Behaved university Prize at the event, which featured a total of 76 public and private universities nationwide and with about 7, 000 student-athletes and officials, participated.
The former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and Pro-Chancellor of the University of Jos (UNIJOS), Prof Attahiru Jega, presented the golden trophy to the winning school at exactly 6.40 pm and the UNIJOS was announced as the next host university in 2024.
Many eminent Nigerians attended the official closing ceremony. Among them are the vice-chancellors of the UNIPORT, Prof George Owunari; University of Jos, Prof Tanko Ishaya; former vice-chancellor of UNILAG, Prof Rahman Bello; Pro- Chancellors of Obafemi Awolowo University(OAU) Ile- Ife, Sir Owelle Oscar Udoji; Alex Ekwueme University Adukwe, Ebonyi, Prof Nimi Briggs; NUGA President, Prof Stephen Sanaah; former Lagos State Commissioner for the Environment, Dr Muiz Banire; deputy vice-chancellor(Academic and Research), Unilag; and so forth.
In his remark, the vice-chancellor of the host university, UNILAG, Prof Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, said he was particularly grateful to God that the competition went well.
He said he was convinced that the essence of the sports fiesta was achieved and that the participants, all Nigerian universities and Nigeria as a whole would remember the event for good and forever.
ALSO READ FROMÂ NIGERIAN TRIBUNE
- Bandits Storm Kaduna Airport, Stop Aircraft From Taking Off
- Lagos Socialite Who Distributed Petrol As Souvenir Sentenced To Two Years Imprisonment, Gets Fine Option
He commended all the sponsors and supporters of the 10-day event both from the private and government sectors across Nigeria for their tremendous contributions to the success of the competition.
He said UNILAG had re-defined NUGA Games hosting by setting a new standard on the best way how university games ought to be hosted.
He said aside from that the event serves as a veritable platform to identify talented sportsmen and women in the nation’s universities for purpose of developing them for national and international honours, it also serves as a unified and good networking forum for participating athletes.
He, however, called to the podium two athletes from the Ahmadu Bello University(ABU) Zaria and both gold medalists who had made a marriage proposal to each other during the event.
In his own remark, NUGA President, Prof Stephen Sanaah, after handing over the hosting right baton of the 2024 edition of the game to the Vice-chancellor of UNIJOS, explained that the association had selected athletes that would represent Nigeria at the International University Sports Federation (FISU) slated for China in June.
How Workplace Sexual Harassment Forces Many Out Of Their Dream Jobs
Again, UNIPORT wins 2022 NUGA games, UNIJOS to host next edition
Marburg Virus: What You Need To Know About Disease Recently Detected In West Africa
Again, UNIPORT wins 2022 NUGA games, UNIJOS to host next edition