UNILAG VC assures of successful 11th FASU Games

The University of Lagos (UNILAG) Vice Chancellor, Prof. Folasade Ogunsola, has expressed the university’s readiness to host over 1,500 athletes across 43 African countries at the 11th Federation of African University Sports (FASU) Games alongside the Lagos State University (LASU).

Speaking yesterday at a media briefing ahead of the African Games billed to hold from September 20 to 29, she noted that all have been put in place by the two institutions to host 17 events, namely athletics (track and field), football, basketball, volleyball, handball, badminton, tennis, table tennis, swimming, taekwondo, judo, karate, cricket, hockey, chess, scrabble and boxing (demonstration sport).

She said: “Our preparation for the FASU Games has been meticulous. We have upgraded our sports facilities to international standards, and we have ensured that the necessary logistics are in place to guarantee a seamless and exciting event. I want to assure all participants, officials, and spectators that UNILAG will deliver an unforgettable experience that reflects the spirit of African unity and excellence.”

She noted that this is the second time Nigeria will be hosting the games, adding that the 11th FASU Games is coming exactly 20 years after it was hosted by the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, (ATBU) Bauchi, in 2004 and 50 years after the first FASU Games held in Accra, Ghana, hosted by the University of Ghana.

She also noted that the joint hosting of the games by UNILAG and LASU is a record breaking feat for the country as it is a first time ever co-hosting of the Games since its inception in 1974.

The Vice Chancellor disclosed that the opening ceremony of the 10-day event will hold on Saturday, September 21, 2024, at the University of Lagos, while the closing ceremony will be held on Saturday, September 28, 2024 at the Lagos State University in Ojo.

Other features of the 10-day Games, she mentioned, include the scientific conference during which sports academics will have the opportunity to share and create new knowledge around sports.

Further side events are the agenda-setting Vice-Chancellors’ meeting and the FISU/FASU Strategic Dialogue.

She said: “For us at the University of Lagos, the 11th FASU Games is coming 2 years after we single-handedly hosted the 26th Nigerian Universities Games (NUGA) with over 5,000 Athletes and officials across 75 Nigerian Universities on our Campus, it was such a remarkable outing which saw stakeholders unanimously rating the 26th NUGA “the best NUGA so far”. The 11th FASU Games will therefore be another opportunity for us to replicate and improve upon the success stories of the 26th NUGA by showcasing our commitment to fostering sports excellence.

“The FASU Games are not merely about sports; they represent a broader vision of unity, youth empowerment, and academic excellence across the African continent. For us at UNILAG, hosting the game is an opportunity to contribute to the development of sports on our continent, while also showcasing the incredible potentials that reside within our students.

“It also provides a platform for student-athletes to exhibit their hard work, resilience, and discipline. These qualities are at the heart of everything we do in our universities, where the aim is not only to nurture academic excellence but build character, and develop well-rounded individuals capable of contributing to society in diverse ways.”