‘10,000 athletes, officials, students to take part in 2018 NIPOGA games’

No fewer than 4,000 athletes and officials excluding 6,000 supporters club (students) from 41 federal and state Polytechnics in Nigeria will take part in the 2018 Nigerian Polytechnic Games (NIPOGA) in Ilorin.

Speaking with journalists in Ilorin on Tuesday on level of preparation for the November NIPOGA games, the rector of the Kwara State Polytechnic: the host institution, Alhaji Masud Elelu, said that NIPOGA is the umbrella body of the sports organisation for federal and state Polytechnics in Nigeria.

The rector, who said that the games was borne out of consensus agreement by stakeholders to organise sporting competition amongst all accredited Nigerian Polytechnics and Colleges of Technology in Nigeria since 1976, highlighted many benefits of the games, which he said to include, ensure peaceful co-existence among Nigerians and to discover and nurture sporting talents for national assignments.

Other benefits according to him, include building friendship among Nigeria Polytechnics and Colleges of Technology, maintain and sustain physically fit and mentally alert youths in Nigeria.

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He also said that the games would serve as a platform to build social, cultural, and political bridges of unity and maintain harmonious relationship in Nigeria.

Alhaji Elelu said that it would draw government and citizens’ attention to the benefits of investing in youths, and generate sponsorship for talented Nigerian youths in and out of the country.

He solicited for sponsorship from corporate organizations in Nigeria for a befitting games.

The Kwara State Polytechnic Rector, explained that Messrs Makarios Global Resources Ltd, has been appointed to help look for funds and partnership from corporate institutions and also take charge of branding for the games.

Also speaking, the local organising chairman for the games, Mr. Idowu Lanre, said the institution was set to make the 20th edition of the games the best in history.

He explained that works at many of the sporting facilities for the games are at 80 per cent completion while the indoor sports hall is fully ready.

Mr. Idowu Lanre explained that athletes would compete in 15 events which include, Table Tennis, Tennis, Badminton, basketball, volleyball, handball, Scrabble, chess, football, judo, hockey, squash, Taekwondo, athletics and draught.