The Rector of the Federal Polytechnic Offa, Dr. Kadiri Kamoru Oluwatoyin, has described the annual Nigeria Polytechnic Games Association (NIPOGA) as another channel to showcase to the world the country’s great potentialities, aside from the negativities erroneously labelled on the country.

This was as the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, highlighted the importance of the Nigeria Polytechnic Games Association (NIPOGA), which he said affords the participating youths the opportunity to network, exchange contacts, ideas, and share experiences in their institutions.

According to Alausa, “NIPOGA fosters unity among youths drawn from across the country.”

Fielding questions from newsmen at the opening ceremony of the ongoing 10-day annual Polytechnic Games, Alausa, through the Director of Polytechnic Education and Allied Institutions in the Ministry, Dr. Ejeh Usman, said: “The message is to encourage participating schools to know the importance of trophy and laurels.

“It is to encourage them to make new friends and exchange ideas towards ultimate development and sportsmanship,” he stated.

In his opening speech at the ongoing 22nd NIPOGA opening ceremony at the Federal Polytechnic Offa Sport Complex Mini Campus, Dr. Oluwatoyin said NIPOGA would afford the country a golden opportunity to not only showcase the potentials of its youths, it would also be used to “showcase to the world that, aside from some of the negatives they read about this country.

“Nigeria is a country with so much abundant talent and potential for future national and international competitions,” he stated.

Tagged: Ijakadi 2024, the substantive fifth Rector enjoined all the 5,000 participants to maximally adhere to the rules of the games, adding that no fewer than 53 polytechnics across the nation would compete for medals in various contests that included: football, chess, handball, judo, and table tennis.

Other contests are: scrabble, taekwondo, lawn tennis, volleyball, athletics, and badminton.

In his address, the Chairman, Governing Council of the school, Alhaji Moshood Oluwole Ojikutu, appreciated the Federal Ministry of Education, the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), among other relevant stakeholders, “whose contributions have made this event a reality,” he added.

He, however, explained the essence of the NIPOGA, saying: “It was established to foster peaceful coexistence among Nigerians and to discover and nurture sporting talents for national representation.”

The Senator representing Kwara South, Lola Ashiru, told newsmen that the NIPOGA is more emotional especially as youths across the country gather to genuinely compete for medals, and peacefully too.

“It is emotional and amazing, especially to see our youths across the country marching together,” he said.