NUGA Approves New Date for 2025 Games in Unijos

UNIVERSITY OF JOS, JOS NIGERIA

(OFFICE OF THE VICE-CHANCELLOR)

INFORMATION, PUBLICATIONS, PUBLIC RELATIONS & PROTOCOL DIVISION

PRESS RELEASE

NUGA APPROVES NEW DATE FOR 2025 COMPETITION IN UNIJOS

The Nigerian University Games Association (NUGA) Council has approved a new date for the forthcoming NUGA competition to be hosted by the University of Jos. The Competition will now take place from 6th to 16th November, 2025, at the University of Jos.

The announcement was made when the NUGA National Executives paid a courtesy visit to the University Management at the Council Chamber, Administrative Building, Naraguta Campus of the University, during the NUGA Annual Council meeting which took place in Unijos.

NUGA President, Professor Engr. Mohammed Bawa, who led the delegation, explained that the decision to shift the date came after thorough consultations with key stakeholders. He emphasized that the new date was necessary to ensure that critical ongoing projects at Unijos, which would be used for the competition, are completed on time.

According to Professor Bawa, "After careful consideration and consultation, the NUGA Council agreed to move the competition to November, 2025. “This will allow the University of Jos to finish some critical infrastructural projects that are vital for the smooth running of the Games. We’ve experienced, in the past, the risk of institutions losing projects when competitions take place without such projects being completed, and we don’t want that to happen here.” As part of the Council decision, Professor Bawa revealed that a Memorandum of Action (MOA) wiould be signed between NUGA and the University Management to formalize the new date and ensure both parties adhere to it.

Professor Bawa also mentioned that the upcoming West African Universities Games (WAUG) will be held in Ghana, and urged the University Management to encourage Students-Athletes to participate in various the various Sports, including Track and Field, Swimming, Badminton, Tennis, Table Tennis, and Taekwondo, among others.

In his contribution, the immediate-past NUGA President, Professor Stephen Hamafeyeltoin, advised the University of Jos to establish a Directorate of Sports, to be manned by a qualified personnel and to employ professional coaches across various Sports disciplines. This, he said, would improve the overall quality of Sports at the University and better prepare Students for national and international competitions.

Responding, Vice-Chancellor, University of Jos, Professor Tanko Ishaya, expressed gratitude to NUGA for approving the extension in the dates the competition will hold. He stated that the additional time would allow the University to make the necessary arrangements and ensure the completion of essential facilities for the Games.

According to the Vice-Chancellor, NUGA’s decision to shift the date will give the University the opportunity to put all the necessary structures in place and ensure that the facilities are ready in time for the competition. He described Sports is a key part of the University’s development, as the institution plans to use the NUGA competition as a platform to promote its facilities and subsequently establish a Sports Institute.

For the West African Universities Games (WAUG), the Vice-Chancellor assured that the University would prepare its Athletes for the event and ensure that they are well equipped to represent the institution.

Also speaking, Chairman of the University of Jos Sports Committee, Professor Ishaya Pam, expressed appreciation to the NUGA Council for approving the new date, noting that the extension would enable the University to finalize its preparations for the event. He also commended the University Management for its efforts at providing the requisite facilities, describing such facilities as “Legacy Projects” that will benefit future generations of Students and Athletes.

Professor Pam noted that with the confirmation of new dates for the competition, the University will ensure that the NUGA Festival is held successfully towards showcasing the institution's Sporting prowess and readiness to accommodate a national-scale competition.

Signed

Abdullahi Abdullahi

Senior Deputy Registrar (Information & Publications)