NUGA PRESIDENT, SECRETARY-GENERAL VISIT VICE CHANCELLOR, OFFER LASU HOSTING RIGHT TO ALL AFRICA UNIVERSITY GAMES IN 2024.

Going by assurances from the Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu and the Vice Chancellor,  Lagos State University,  Prof. Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello,  mni, and barring any unforseen circumstances, the Lagos State University will co-host the All Africa University Games in 2024.

This follows an offer to co-host the competition, presented on Tuesday, by the President  Nigeria Universities Games (NUGA), Prof. Stephen Hamafyelto, when he visited the Vice Chancellor in company of the Secretary-General of NUGA, Mr. Bola Orodele, at her office on the 6th floor, Babatunde Raji Fashola Senate Building, Main Campus, Ojo.

Prof. Stephen, in his comments,  said that from all he has seen in the university, LASU is ready to host the rest of Africa. 

"Looking at your vision for the University, the sixth strategic goal is to promote participation in Sports and Recreational Activities. I have been to many universities and nowhere have I seen anything as detailed as your goal for sports. Under this goal, the fourth objective is to place LASU on the world map through sports. This is the opportunity. When LASU hosts Africa, the rest of the world will take note. We want the people from all over the continent to come to LASU."

He added that the State Governor has given his nod for the Lagos State through LASU and University of Lagos to host the competition in 2024: "We have the state Governor's nod to bring the competition to Lagos. All we need is your approval and we will write to FASU to come to LASU. And I believe that once you can host Africa, you can definitely host the NUGA Games, which is for Nigerians only."

The Secretary-General, Mr. Orodele, added that "Our mission here is purposely to ask LASU to co-host the Africa Universities Games in 2024. The rest of Africa have decided that they want to come to Nigeria and we believe Lagos is the right place to come. And the two Universities in Lagos that can co-host the competition are LASU and Unilag. 

"There is a huge upgrade on the facilities on ground now, compared to what it was some years ago when I first came to LASU. So we believe LASU has what it takes."

The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Olatunji-Bello, in her response, affirmed the university's interest in hosting the competition.  She said, "I am delighted to receive you to the Lagos State University and I am happy at the offer to host the Games. If the Governor has promised to back us in hosting the competition, I, as the VC, am giving it my full support."

The All-Africa University Games is a regional multi-sports event for university students in Africa organised by the African Sports Federation (FASU). The games were first held in 1975 in Accra, Ghana.

The meeting had in attendance the Deputy Vice Chancellor,  Academic,  Prof. Wahab Elias; the University Librarian,  Dr. Emmanuel Lai Adebayo; Head, Epe Campus, Prof. Rauf Okunneye; Director, Sandwich Degree Programme, Prof. J.O Adeogun; Director, Sports, Dr. Segun Olawunmi; Acting Director, Directorate of Special Interventions, Dr. Oseni Afisi; Chief Coach,  Coach Owoyemi I.O, and senior officials of the Vice Chancellor's Office.