By Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Guardian Nigeria
Published on 2024-01-19 03:59:44
The 11th African University Games are set to take place from September 20 to 29, 2024, and the University of Lagos (UNILAG) and Lagos State University (LASU) have been awarded the hosting rights. This joint hosting decision reflects a commitment to promoting sporting excellence within the African university community, as stated by the Nigerian Universities Games Association (NUGA).
The sporting event will feature a wide range of disciplines across two categories. Category one will consist of individual sports such as athletics, badminton, chess, judo, table tennis, tennis, karate, taekwondo, and swimming. Category two, on the other hand, will include team sports like basketball, football, volleyball, and handball.
Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has reaffirmed his support for the African university sports community during the commissioning of projects at Lagos State University, expressing his commitment to promoting sports development and providing world-class facilities for athletes. This aligns with his vision for enhancing sports infrastructure in the state.
The 11th African University Games will be particularly historic as it will be co-hosted by female vice chancellors of the respective universities. Professor Folasade Ogunsola, the 13th Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos, and Prof. Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello, the ninth Vice-Chancellor of Lagos State University, will lead this groundbreaking collaboration.
Prof. Ogunsola stated the intention to leverage the excellent facilities developed during the NUGA Games in 2021 and outlined plans to further enhance the university sports center, including the recently commissioned 240-bed sports hostel. Prof. Olatunji-Bello expressed gratitude to Governor Sanwo-Olu and highlighted the significance of the event for Lagos State and the broader Nigerian university community.
NUGA’s Acting President, Dr. Bawa Mohammed, commended the co-hosting institutions for their contributions to the development of university sports in Nigeria and urged them to showcase Nigerian hospitality and provide Africa with a memorable experience during the games. The event promises to be an exciting and significant initiative that will bring together the best of African university sports.
Read the original article on The Guardian
