…VC, Prof. Adamu Ahmed, expresses joy, saying it is an opportunity to build Nigeria’s economy around sports value chain
By Saidu Abubakar
Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria has received the provisional hosting rights for the 29th Nigerian University Games Association (NUGA) games scheduled for 2028.
The Public Affairs Directorate, Office of the Vice-Chancellor, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria recalls in a statement that the Nigerian University Games (NUGA) is a biennial event that brings together student-athletes from universities across Nigeria.
The award of the hosting rights was contained in a letter to the Vice-Chancellor by Ag. Secretary-General of the Nigerian University Games Association (NUGA) Yunusa M. Bazza.
The letter, dated 3rd December, 2025, was at the instance of the Council of the Nigerian University Games Association.
It said the hosting right was contingent upon the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA).
Additionally, the letter said NUGA Council would announce the specific dates for the great sporting events in due course, according to the statement.
By this, the university is empowered to engage with both governmental and non-governmental organizations to build partnerships that would assure the success of the games in 2028.
The letter, according to the NUGA Ag. Secretary-General, also granted the university the “green light to commence improvements” on its facilities, both sports-related and otherwise, in preparation for the event.
Receiving the letter of award for the hosting rights, the Vice-Chancellor, Ahmadu Bello University, Prof Adamu Ahmed, expressed excitement over the development.
Prof Ahmed explained that the hosting rights for the NUGA games aligned with the national policy for the development of next generation of athletes in Nigeria through the university.
The Vice-Chancellor expressed joy for the opportunity to host the games again since the last time it hosted in 2001.
Ahmed also said the development was an added opportunity to build Nigeria’s economy around the sports value chain.
He stressed that the university was looking at the opportunity with clear understanding of what the Nigerian government wanted out of sports industry.
The games, according to him, would not only be for students to enjoy but also for the nation despite the difficult challenges.
The Vice-Chancellor noted that the development was coming at a time when the university was designated as one of the sports centres of excellence in Nigeria.
Prof Ahmed commended NUGA Council for giving the university another opportunity to host the games and assured that ABU would justify the confidence reposed in it by doing all that was needed to organise the games successfully.
He stated that the university had a long and proud tradition in sports having produced some of Nigeria’s finest athletes, coaches, and sports administrators over the years.
According to him, ABU always believed in the power of sports as a unifying force, a tool for youth development, and a vehicle for building character and resilience.
The Vice-Chancellor, who took pride in the institution’s sporting facilities, history, and human resources, asserted that sports today was no longer leisure alone as it was also a multi-billion dollar industry globally.
Prof Ahmed, who said the university looked forward to hosting the sporting events, pledged to have a good working relationship with NUGA before, during, and after the games.
