By Chibuike Nwabuko
ABUJA FCT – The Minister of Sports and Development Senator John Enoh has assured the Organizing Committee of the Federation of African University Games (FASU) of the ministry’s readiness to do whaterver is needed to ensure that the forthcoming African University Games (AUG) billed to take place in Nigeria are successfully hosted.
Senator Enoh gave the assurance on Wednesday when the delegation of the Organizing Committee of FASU visited him in his Abuja office.
The minister who disclosed this in a statement released on his X account said:
“A delegation from the Organizing Committee of the Federation of African University Games (FASU) stopped by my office to discuss the upcoming Africa University Games. The next games are billed to take place in Nigeria and the Nigerian University Games Association(NUGA) is directly responsible for putting the games together. I have assured the Committee on the ministry’s readiness to do whatever is needed to ensure that the games are successfully hosted. This will count significantly for us in the end.”
Precise Post recalls that the 11th FASU Games, tagged “Lagos 2024” will be hosted by University of Lagos in collaboration with the Lagos State University.
This will marks the second time Nigeria will host the FASU Games, 20 years after the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi, hosted the event in 2004.
The University of Lagos in collaboration with the Lagos State University have promised to hold the Games in grand style.
This assurance was made during the media briefing held on Thursday to update the public on the state of preparedness and expectations for the continental Games, which will take place from 20-29 September.
According to the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos, Professor Folasade T. Ogunsola, “Nigeria is not just hosting the Games; it is about to make history. These Games will be jointly hosted by two of Nigeria’s leading universities, the University of Lagos and the Lagos State University, a first-time ever co-hosting of the Games since its inception in 1974.”
Mrs Ogunsola emphasised that the FASU Games represent a broader vision of unity, youth empowerment, and academic excellence across the African continent.
“For us at UNILAG, hosting the Games is an opportunity to contribute to the development of sports on our continent while also showcasing the incredible potentials that reside within our students.”
Further recall that over 3,500 athletes and officials from universities across Africa are expected to participate and the University of Lagos has upgraded its sports facilities to international standards and ensured necessary logistics are in place for a seamless and exciting event.
The 10-day event will feature 17 sports, including athletics, football, basketball, volleyball, handball, badminton, tennis, table tennis, swimming, taekwondo, judo, karate, cricket, hockey, chess, scrabble, and boxing (demonstration sport).
