Students of the University of Jos who win Gold medals during the forthcoming 27th edition of the Nigerian Universities Games Association (NUGA) festival will be granted full Scholarships for the entire duration of their studies at the University.
Vice-Chancellor of the University of Jos, Professor Tanko Ishaya, made the pledge when he inaugurated a 27-member Local Organizing Committee (LOC) saddled with the responsibility of coordinating and ensuring a hitch-free hosting of the games slated to be held in the University in 2024.
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At the ceremony, which took place at the Faculty of Social Sciences Auditorium, Naraguta Campus, the Vice-Chancellor charged members of the committee to take the responsibilities assigned to them with all the seriousness they deserve as the assignment calls for sacrifice, commitment, and sharing of ideas, knowledge and skill to achieve success.
The Vice-Chancellor expressed confidence in the committee members, saying thatthat the caliber of persons chosen for this critical assignment was based on their experience in sports administration and reiterated that the University will host the best-ever NUGA Games in 2024.
Professor Ishaya assured the LOC members of the University Administration’s full support in all aspects that will lead to the successful hosting of the competition and encouraged students of the University to come out in their numbers to participate in the various games during the match.
Responding on behalf of the LOC members, the First Alternate Chairman and Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration), Professor Joash Amupitan SAN, confirmed that members of the committee have accepted the task before them, which they consider a unique opportunity to serve, pledging that the committee will deliver on its mandate.
Professor Amupitan acknowledged that although the task ahead is quite challenging, committee members have no excuse but to deliver on their mandate through determination, commitment, and sacrifice, which should be their watchword.
He appreciated the University Administration for considering them worthy to serve in this capacity. He advised members of the committee to cooperate and be open-minded to justify the confidence reposed in them.
Speaking on behalf of the Plateau State Government, a member of the committee and State Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Hon. Bashir Datti, said the State Government accords high premium to sports development, which is why the Government fully supported the University of Jos when it bid for the hosting rights of the 2024 NUGA Games Festival. According to him, hosting the Games will be one of the most outstanding achievements not just by the University but the State at large since it will be the first time University Students from all over Nigeria will converge in the State in such large numbers.
Hon. Datti, who was represented by his Special Assistant, Mr. Mustapha Usman explained that the forthcoming NUGA Games in UNIJOS will improve the economic base of the Plateau State by contributing to the State’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) being an event that will bring a variety people to the State who would patronize the wide range of businesses and services available during the period especially within the city of Jos.
Also speaking, the Chairman, University of Jos Sports Committee, Professor Ishaya Pam, expressed delight that the forthcoming NUGA Festival will present Plateau State in a good light, especially in the area of sports development since hosting the event will require the construction of state-of-the-art sports facilities in UNIJOS which will in the long run serve as a veritable sports destination in Nigeria.
Professor Pam disclosed that the Sports Committee, in conjunction with the University Administration, has put plans in motion towards establishing a Sports Institute in the University, which, according to him, would be a specialized center for training and grooming sportsmen and women for the nation. Professor Pam also revealed that the University Administration has directed the UNIJOS Sports Committee to commence processes for establishing an Amateur Football Club, which will subsequently participate in the National Amateur Football League.
Goodwill messages were received from Dr. Ahmed Abu Bawa on behalf of External members of the LOC, Pastor Nuhu Sani on behalf of UNIJOS Alumni, Professor Jennifer Audu-Peters on behalf of Volunteers andNUGA LOC Comrade Longmun Dakun on behalf of the Students.
The UNIJOS NUGA LOC is chaired by the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Tanko Ishaya, with the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration), Professor Joash Amupitan, and renowned Sports Administrator, Dr. Amos Adamu, to serve as the First Alternate and Second Alternate Chairmen, respectively. The LOC also has the likes of former Director-General of the National Institute of Sports (NIS), Mallam Alhassan Yakmut, and President of UNIJOS Alumni Association, Pastor Nuhu Sani, as members.
It would be recalled that the University of Jos secured the hosting rights to the 27th edition of the NUGA Games Festival to be held in 2024 for the first time in the University’s 48 years of existence.
Meanwhile, the University of Jos has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Nigerian Universities Games Association (NUGA) Executive Committee towards a successful Games in 2024. At the signing of the MOU, Vice-Chancellor of the University, Professor Tanko Ishaya, explained how far the University has gone with preparations for the competition, saying the institution has put a lot of resources and other necessary logistics in place that would yield the desired results. Professor Ishaya explained that work will soon commence at the University’s new Sports Complex, assuring that the University has secured intervention from the Federal Government and private organizations towards building a befitting Games Village for the Festival. He called on Alumni of the University, well-meaning individuals, and organizations to partner with the University as it prepares to host memorable University Games.
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While appreciating the NUGA Executive for its oversight and quality assurance functions, the Vice-Chancellor said the University is ready to work with the NUGA Secretariat to remedy any identified gray areas.
Chairman of the NUGA delegation, Professor Mohammed Bawa, commended the University Admiuniversity administration for succeeding in the petition, saying the passion the Vice-Cvice-chancellorhown towards achieving the feat has convinced the NUGA Executexecutivesthey will record another milestone in 2024. Professor Bawa assured the University of NUGA’s unalloyed support and called on the institution to seek counsel or clarification whenever needed.
Other members of the NUGA delegation that visited UNIJOS were former NUGA President Professor Stephen Hamfeito, Professor Diepreye Ere, Professor M.G. Yakasai, Dr. Ajibua Michael, and Miss Chidiebere Ezeani.
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