53 polytechnics register for NIPOGA in Kwara

Secretary General of Nigeria Polytechnics Games Association (NIPOGA), Mallam Abubakar Abdullahi, has said that 53 Polytechnics with about 4,000 athletes have so far registered for the polytechnic games hat the Federal Polytechnic Offa, in Kwara.

A statement by the head, Media and Publicity committee for the games, Dr. Mrs. Oluwakemi Ogungbamigbe, on Thursday, said that contingents from Delta, Taraba, Bauchi, Rivers, Osun, and Ekiti States have arrived the state with others on their way.

“All things have been put in place to ensure a hitch free NIPOGA”, he said.

Also, the Chairman, Media and Publicity Committee, Dr. Ogungbamigbe, said that the Federal Polytechnic Offa, is fully ready for the 22nd edition of Nigeria Polytechnic Games (NIPOGA) scheduled to hold from April 5 to 12, 2025.

She said that the event will spread across eight days comprising of sporting action, cultural exchange and economic activities.

She also said that the contingents from different polytechnics will compete in various events including: Athletics, Football, Basketball, Volleyball, Tennis, Chess, Scrabble, Handball, Badminton, Table tennis, Judo, and Taekwondo.

At an earlier press conference declaring the hosting of the games and the level of preparedness, Rector of the Federal Polytechnic,Offa, Engineer Dr. Kadiri Kamoru Oluwatoyin, affirmed that the 22nd edition of NIPOGA will go beyond winning medals to foster friendship, inclusiveness and social cohesion among students across the country.

“This tournament will serve as a springboard for talent identification and international sports participation. If we get it right at this level, we will be securing the future of Nigerian sports,” he said.

“The 22nd edition of the NIPOGA Games has thus been tagged with the theme ‘Ijakadi 2024’. This phrase, ‘IJAKADI’, is deeply rooted in the rich cultural heritage of Offa, a historic town in Kwara State and the host community for the games.

“Offa is renowned for its traditional Ijakadi festival, a wrestling event that embodies equality, unity, and justice. Similarly, the NIPOGA Games will unite polytechnic students from diverse backgrounds, promoting competition on an equal footing.

The Ijakadi festival’s emphasis on fairness and togetherness makes it an ideal theme for this milestone edition of the games”.

The Rector added that the event will feature a special exhibition of groundbreaking innovations of the school including: Okin-EV1; an electric car; Okin-EBicycle electric bike and bicycle; A large full-colour digital billboard for advertising and communication and; A 3D Printer amongst others to reinforce the Polytechnic sectors commitment to the advancement of technology, sustainability and entrepreneurship.