Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, has been granted provisional hosting rights for the 29th Nigerian University Games Associa...
Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, has been granted provisional hosting rights for the 29th Nigerian University Games Association (NUGA) scheduled to hold in 2028.
The approval was conveyed in a letter dated December 3, 2025, addressed to the Vice-Chancellor of the university, Professor Adamu Ahmed, by the Acting Secretary-General of NUGA, Yunusa M. Bazza, on behalf of the association’s council.
NUGA, a biennial sporting event, brings together student-athletes from universities across Nigeria to compete in various sports. According to the letter, the hosting rights are subject to the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA), while the exact dates for the games will be announced by the NUGA Council in due course.
The letter also authorised the university to commence upgrades of its sports and related facilities in preparation for the event and to engage relevant government and non-governmental organisations to form partnerships that would ensure a successful hosting.
Receiving the letter, Professor Ahmed expressed excitement over the development, describing it as a significant opportunity for both the university and the country.
He said hosting the NUGA games aligned with the national policy of developing the next generation of Nigerian athletes through the university system, adding that ABU was delighted to host the games again, having last done so in 2001.
The Vice-Chancellor noted that beyond sports, the event offered an avenue to stimulate Nigeria’s economy through the sports value chain, stressing that modern sports had evolved into a multi-billion-dollar global industry.
“This is not just about competition for students, but an opportunity for the nation, even in the face of prevailing challenges,” he said.
Professor Ahmed further observed that the hosting rights came at a time when ABU had been designated as one of Nigeria’s sports centres of excellence, reinforcing the institution’s long-standing reputation in sports development.
He commended the NUGA Council for the confidence reposed in the university and assured that ABU would take all necessary steps to ensure a successful hosting of the games.
The Vice-Chancellor highlighted the university’s rich sporting heritage, noting that ABU had produced some of Nigeria’s finest athletes, coaches, and sports administrators. He described sports as a unifying force, a tool for youth development, and a means of building character and resilience.
Professor Ahmed pledged that the university would maintain a strong and productive working relationship with NUGA before, during, and after the 2028 games.
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