When we talk about NUGA Games, it dated back to 1962 when it was initiated with a lot of notable successes recorded over the years, young sensational, talented stars making it to the apex of their dreams coming along with global recognition and awards, the NUGA events has truly lived up to its expectation with a force in strategic places, more is yet to come.
With the 26th NUGA games in sight, Sport247.ng spoke exclusively to Chidiebere Ezeani, newly appointed Acting National Secretary as she talks us through what NUGA Games is all about, what to expect in the upcoming edition amongst a variety of other interesting information.
Member of the Committee of Vice-Chancellors of Nigerian Universities-Seoul National University, Ezeani previously worked with TVC Communications as a sports news producer and writer, worked at both broadcast and print media, NTA and the Sun respectively as an intern. She reports with FISU Media and is a freelance TV Presenter.
Ezeani talked us through the challenges, formats of participation, plans in place, objectives of the games as she revealed that the NUGA Games is hosted every two years, “the last game was in 2017, so there’s a gap of five years until now but we won’t overlook unforeseen circumstances, the COVID pandemic, which is among a host of many factors for the failure to keep to the biennial schedule.”
“There are a lot of challenges faced over time boiling down to the absence of sporting facilities leaving us with no other option than to improvise, inadequate financial backing. But now, we will ensure that university campuses have standard sporting equipment, we will help build more in preparation to welcome other states. As for the finances, we are working to get corporate organizations and alumni as investors and sponsors.”
Speaking about the event schedule, “this 26th edition of the NUGA will be hosted in Lagos as the state will be providing us with the facilities. There’s an aura that comes with the “EKO for show slogan”, we want to be at the center for all to see and that’s why the Vice-Chancellor of Lagos State University, Professor Ogundipe, is making sure things are in place, getting in contact with various bodies concerned to make sure we have an eventful outing.”
“We opted for Lagos because it’s a strategic location to host a mega event, it will also lessen a lot of burdens and involve the community in school sport. Just a few days ago, we met with Gov. Udom Emmanuel to look at how this event will be a success. Furthermore, we are also in contact with the alumni and keeping tabs with Lagos State who will be providing us with facilities.”
On the format for participation, she posited that over 120 universities registered under NUGA Games, “A-0 in various geographical locations for the eleven days intense sports event which will begin from 16th -27th of March. The preliminary stage for qualification is currently ongoing in various designed states and it’s expected to end by the 3rd week of February.”
“We are putting a lot of things into consideration hence why the preliminary stage isn’t done in a central location talking about the security of these athletes and officials when it comes to traveling and also funding. Two best athletes and one team will make it to the finals in Lagos State, so we have 15 teams who will be joining the host team who have the automatic qualification to make it 16 team tourney.”
Coming to terms with the amount of media coverage the NUGA Games has received over the years, “the publicity itself is being pushed; we might not be in the mainstream media but then, we have John Momoh who is an alumnus of Unilag and also the chairman of Channels Tv, so we will definitely get the coverage for one of the most thrilling games in Nigeria,” she posited.
“Social media is another viable platform for Gen-Z with substantial coverage while also making use of Youtube for Video streams, live commentaries, and interviews. We are hoping to get as more coverage as possible; we can’t say who and who is going to be available in terms of foreign scouts to see the athletes in action, the nest is widely cast, it’s open for all and that’s why we will ensure that it gets the best of publicity we can give it.”
On Media accreditation,” it will begin by Monday and the first week of the match will see us gather the members of the press for the official press conference.”
On the aim of NUGA Games, “Primarily, the aim is to help national Federation scout for best players, we want to bring out budding talents to the limelight, we are growing with time and will feature every sport in both sexes as we are also gradually building a strategic partnership with various bodies and individuals to promote the games.”
“The 26th NUGA Games is not just about the student but Lagos who will be hosting, private organizations, individuals, we want to raise formidable alumni systems, collaborating with world university games and building the relationship for these young talents we have.”
“If we do not develop a stronghold at the grassroots level, we will struggle when it comes to replacing existing stars, we need the system to promote them,” Ezeani explained.
In her concluding remark where she also called out the members of the public to this event, Ezeani didn’t leave anything to chance as she showered praises on the team who are behind the planning of the event, she saluted Mr. Bola Oredola’s commitment, the man who stepped down for her to take the mantle saying that he has dedicated his life to making sure NUGA Games prospers.
Over the years, NUGA Games has produced the likes of Chidi Imo, ex-Super Eagles veteran goalkeeper, Vincent Enyeama, Olumide Oyedeji in the basketball category, Chika Chukwu, Taekwando, Olusoji Fasuba among many others as it sought to keep contributing to the development of sports.
