Unilag And Lasu Set to Host African University Games

The University of Lagos, Unilag, and the Lagos state University, Lasu, both in southern Nigeria, will co-host the 11th edition of Federation of African University Sports, FAS.

The games is scheduled to kick off with the opening ceremony on Saturday 21st of September, 2024 till Sunday, the 29th.

Organisers of the Federation of African University Sports, FASU, Games have said they are prepared to deliver a world class sporting experience.

Nigeria is hosting the event for the first time in 20 years when the Abubakar Tawafa Balewa University, Bauchi the first event in the country in 2004.

About 120 universities from within Nigeria and 14 other countries in Africa are scheduled to participate in the biennial competition.

A member of the organizing committee, Professor Ayodele Atsenuwa, the Deputy Vice Chancellor of Unilag (Development Services), said the University has international standard infrastructures to ensure that they, in collaboration with Lasu, represent Nigeria well.

Prof Atsenuwa said “In terms of physical facilities, I think that we are a bit fortunate to have hosted NUGA not too long ago and to have put in place good arrangements for maintaining, continuing to maintain the facilities in top stage”. 

“So what we have just tried to do, it is a way necessary to ensure that we are ready for the games and represent Nigeria very well. And I know that LASU has also done the same on the other side. In terms of infrastructure, we have very impressive ones,” she said.

“I can say that we have the Tartan tracks in place, which is our standard. We have an Olympic -sized swimming pool with all the requirements for international standards. And we also have a football pitch in the University of Lagos which meets the international standard certified by the Federation. The same thing also with cricket. And our indoor sports hall has been renovated and improved significantly upon. So we’re all set”. 

Prof. Atsenuwa said she expects new records to be broken as well as discover new talents that will represent Nigeria at international competitions.

“We have countries from West Africa, East Africa, as well as Southern Africa. And we promise the world that we will deliver, we will advance the very best of talents.

The games will be, I believe, will be very lively. 

“I do not think that anybody is coming to these games prepared. So we’ll see some showcasing of talents. We’re hoping that some records, some records can be broken. And we will also have feeder into professional sports, or even amateur sports, such as the Olympics, or the all African, all African games, or other national festivals. “So we’re expecting very exciting times”. 

The 11th FASU games, will feature 13 sports including basketball, football, volleyball and handball, athletics, badminton, chess, judo, table tennis, tennis, karate, taekwondo and swimming.