News: President Goodluck Jonathan Declares 24th Nigeria University Games Association Open

The 24th Nigeria University Games Association (NUGA) Games has been formally declared open by President Goodluck Jonathan. The biennial event commenced on Wed.Feb.12 with the arrival of student-athletes and accreditation will end on February 22. Cecilia Arinye, a NUGA Council member said the president was at the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Osun State for the ceremony.

She  added; “The Minister of Sports and Youth Development, Bolaji Abdullahi is also among the dignitaries at the opening ceremony. It is a tradition in NUGA for succeeding event to outshine the previous ones. The ambiance of festivity hovering around OAU now is an indication that a lot has gone into the buildup for the Games. The presence of the Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces, Federal Republic of Nigeria also laid more credence to the event”.

According to her, the competition is on course technically as all logistics have been put in place by the Local Organising Committee in readiness for a successful fiesta. Similarly Emma Okolo, the Team Leader, University of Lagos (UNILAG), said they arrived in Ile-Ife on Thursday with 108 athletes for 12 events they have comparative edge in. According to him the events were Athletics, Badminton, Basketball, Chess, Football, Squash, Swimming, Hockey, Handball, Table Tennis and Tennis.