2nd April, 2017
The Zone E preliminaries of the 2017 Nigeria University Games Association (NUGA) Games got underway on Sunday at the Gombe State University (GSU) in Gombe.
Speaking during the opening ceremony, Daniel Musa, the Gombe State Head of Service, charged the participants to ensure they exhibited a spirit of sportsmanship.
Musa who was represented by Usman Bello-Zunnu, advised them to understand that the competition was for promoting friendship among the universities and their students.
He also lauded the GSU management for hosting the competition and assured that the university would improve its facilities before the next NUGA Games.
Ibrahim Njodi, the Vice Chancellor of University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID), represented by the NUGA President, Stephen Hamafylto, also commended GSU for hosting the prelims on behalf of UNIMAID.
Njodi then advised the GSU management to improve the institution’s sports facilities to give students the chance to be well trained ahead of the next NUGA Games.
Ibrahim Umar, the Vice Chancellor of GSU, described the competition as a forum where students could build long-lasting friendships.
“This is also the best forum where you can get those who will represent the country at the West African Universities Games and the World Universities Games,’’ he said.
Umar urged the participants to be good sportsmen and women and to put in their best in representing their various universities.
“Those who win in the end will be celebrated, while those who will lose definitely have another day to try,” he said.
The preliminaries started with a match between Yobe State University and Gombe State University and it ended 1-1.