Patrick Kelechi, Lagos
DAILY COURIER - No fewer than 143 student-athletes will represent the University of Lagos (UNILAG) at the upcoming 11th Federation of Africa University (FASU) Games, scheduled to take place from September 21 to 28, 2024.
The university’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Folasade Ogunsola, revealed this during a press conference on Thursday, August 22, expressing the school’s readiness to co-host with Lagos State University (LASU).
She recounted the school’s efforts in hosting the 26th Nigerian Universities Games (NUGA) with over 5,000 athletes and officials from 75 Nigerian universities accommodated in Lagos, assuring that they will deliver even better as co-hosts to the contingent from other African universities.
“For us at the University of Lagos, the 11th FASU Games comes two years after we single-handedly hosted the 26th Nigerian Universities Games (NUGA) with over 5,000 athletes and officials from 75 Nigerian universities on our campus. It was such a remarkable outing that stakeholders unanimously rated the 26th NUGA as ‘the best NUGA so far,’” Professor Ogunsola said.
“The 11th FASU Games will therefore be another opportunity for us to replicate and improve upon the success stories of the 26th NUGA by showcasing our commitment to fostering sports excellence.”
The Vice-Chancellor described the FASU Games as a platform that embodies the vision of unity, youth empowerment, and academic excellence across the African continent.
“It also provides a platform for student-athletes to exhibit their hard work, resilience, and discipline,” she said.
“These qualities are at the heart of everything we do in our universities, where the aim is not only to nurture academic excellence but also to build character and develop well-rounded individuals capable of contributing to society in diverse ways.”
She reiterated her institution’s commitment to making the competition a memorable experience.
“UNILAG has always been a beacon of excellence in academics and sports, and we view this responsibility as an opportunity to reinforce our leadership role in promoting student-athlete development across Africa,” she added.
“Our preparation for the FASU Games has been meticulous. We have upgraded our sports facilities to international standards and ensured that the necessary logistics are in place to guarantee a seamless and exciting event.”
Ahead of the competition, it is hoped that all 43 member countries of FASU will compete for laurels in 17 sports, namely: Athletics (track and field), Football, Basketball, Volleyball, Handball, Badminton, Tennis, Table Tennis, Swimming, Taekwondo, Judo, Karate, Cricket, Hockey, Chess, Scrabble, and Boxing (Demonstration Sport).
