About 120 universities from Nigeria and 36 others from across Africa have begun arriving in Lagos for the 11th edition of the All-Africa University Games, which will be co-hosted by the University of Lagos and Lagos State University.
The games, running from today, September 20, to September 29, mark a significant sporting event for African universities, with Nigeria serving as the host nation for the first time in two decades.
The opening ceremony is set for Saturday at the UNILAG Sports Complex, kicking off the competition that will showcase various sporting disciplines and promote cultural exchange among participants.
This is the first time the event will be jointly hosted by two universities, highlighting a collaborative spirit and shared responsibility in accommodating the influx of athletes and officials.
UNILAG’s Vice Chancellor, Professor Folasade Ogunsola, emphasized the significance of the Games in enhancing Nigeria’s cultural presence on the continental stage.
She noted, “As for what we will bring, we will create the fun that went around NUGA. The beauty of hosting FASU now is that we don’t have to rethink things from scratch. We thought a lot of things through the last time we hosted NUGA, and we have a template to apply for the games.”
Prof. Ogunsola also expressed confidence in the synergy between UNILAG and LASU, stating, “One of the things that we are already doing now is to drum up awareness and get our students fully involved. We will also use the opportunity to showcase Nigeria’s very rich and diversified cultural heritage. Co-hosting with LASU also takes some of the burden off our shoulders, and the Lagos State Government is also supporting us.”
In preparation for the Games, UNILAG organized a roadshow on Thursday to create awareness and engage the university community.
The event was lively, featuring students and staff members rallying around the campus to generate excitement for the upcoming competitions.
UNILAG’s Director of Sports, Joseph Awoyinfa, highlighted the university’s readiness to host the event, noting that all sporting facilities have been upgraded to meet the required standards.
“We are going to have about 17 sports, and UNILAG will be hosting football, cricket, swimming, basketball, handball, and tennis. All the indoor games will be held at LASU,” he explained.
He added that the facilities at UNILAG are well-prepared for the Games, with the basketball courts and indoor hall recently refurbished.
“Our swimming pool is also the only one in Nigerian universities that has a switch timer that automatically records the time of a swimmer as soon as he jumps into the water,” Awoyinfa said.
The return of the Federation of African University Sports (FASU) Games to Nigeria is seen as a landmark moment, with the country last hosting the event in 2004 at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University in Bauchi.
The joint hosting by UNILAG and LASU sets a new precedent, demonstrating the capability and resources of Nigerian universities to host large-scale continental events.
