Federation of African University Games 2024: A veritable ground for African sports talents
By Dr. Salau Dee Elf (NUGA Publicity Liaison Officer 1993-2001)
The Federation of African Universities Sports (FASI), the body that is in charge of Organisation of Sports competitions within Universities in Africa. Many sports stars have been discovered in various Sports for many African Countries. The popular athlete Chidi Imo, Olapade Adeniken and others who competed and won many medals for Nigeria in Athletics are products of Nigerian University Games Association (NUGA)
In Football, Adokie Amesimaka, a Law Students of the University of Portharcourt, Mutiu Adepoju of the University of Ibadan, Super Eagles Midfielder Seyi Olofinjana of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso among others were University stars who performed wonderfully for the National Football Team.
Many others in other national sports who were stars in their Sports competed and won laurels for Nigeria in their various Sports. It is very easy to Coach University Students in Sports due to their level of education and exposure.
However, with the turn of quick and fast results in Football and other sports, institutional sports was relegated to the background. Most American draft into American Professional Baseball are from American Colleges/Universities. The same is also the case with Athletics and other major sports. Their Institutional Sports are well organised and well supported by private organisations. Their star players/Athletes are not only well supported but are monitored to know their growth.
With this background it will be worthwhile for Nigeria to ensure her Institutional Sports such as the NUGA, Nigerian Polytheistic Games Association (NIPOGA), Nigerian Colleges of Education Games Association (NICEGA) and School Sports Federation of Nigeria (SSFN) are properly supported and funded to become the grass root for the production of star sportsmen and women in Nigeria.
Come September 20th to 29th 2024 this year, two Nigerian Universities will host the 11th FASU Games. The University of Lagos, (UNILAG) Akoka Lagos and Lagos State University, (LASU) Ojo Lagos will Co-host this 11th Edition of the Games.
About 100 Universities from different Countries in Africa with more than 3,500 sportsmen and women with about 1,000 officials will be at the Games. It will be an avenue for the athletes to showcase their talents during the FASU Conmpetitions.
It will be recalled that Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University(ATBU), Bauchi hosted the 4th edition of the Games in 1996. The Federal and Bauchi State Governments fully supported NUGA and ATBU. As the NUGA Press Officer then, we worked directly with Alhaji Sani Toro, then Bauchi State Commissioner for Youth and Sports, who made the State work tirelessly for the success of the FASU Games.
The hosting of the FASU is an opportunity for Nigerian Universities to showcase the talents they have, win laurels and eventually become stars in their respective sports for Nigeria. Other Universities in Africa are also coming to compete for laurels and expose their athletes.
The success of this FASU Games highly lies in the organisational efforts of the joint host Universities, the Lagos State and Federal Governments. The outside influence that will also come handy for the Games is the power of the organisers to seek sponsorship for the Games.
The greater import of the Games is for Nigeria to deliberately scout for potential stars in different sports for the country. This will be a great opportunity for the country to get back to its original grassroots way of catching the sports stars young and turning them to stars.
So obviously, the FASU Games being jointly hosted by UNILAG and LASU Is not only a good opportunity for Nigeria to showcase good brotherliness to her African brothers and Sisters, but an opportunity to grow its sports industry.
With the return of Nigeria to Institutional Sports through this September 20th to 29th FASU Games, we hope Nigeria will get it right.
Dr Salau Dee Elf writes from Lagos | [email protected]
