All is set by the University of Lagos(UNILAG), Akoka, to successfully host the 2024 Federation of African University Sports (FASU) Games.
The event to be co-hosted with the Lagos State University(LASU), Ojo, is scheduled for between Friday, 20th and Sunday, 29th September.
No fewer than 1,500 sport men and women including officials from universities across the 43 FASU member countries are expected to participate in the event, featuring a total of 17 games in both campuses.
This 11th edition is the second time Nigeria will play host to the event in its 50 years history. The first time was 20 years ago at Abubakar Tawawa Balewa University(ATBU), Bauchi.
Addressing newsmen on Thursday at UNILAG, the Vice-Chancellor of UNILAG, Prof Folasade Ogunsola said UNILAG has fully prepared to make the event a worthwhile not only for contigents and officials but also for spectators, sponsors and other attendees.
She explained that UNILAG has upgraded its sports facilities to world- standards for use during the event and also put in place necessary logistics.
She said LASU on its part, had also prepared very well as co-host for the event.
Ogunsola listed all the 17 games to be competed for to include Athletics (track and field), Football, Basketball, Volleyball, Handball, Badminton, Table Tennis, Swimming, Taekwondo, and so forth.
She noted that while some such as football and taekwondo would be played at both campuses, others will be played in either of the two campuses.
The vice-chancellor declared that the successful hosting of the Nigerian Universities Games (NUGA) solely by UNILAG two years ago and with over 5,000 contigents from about 75 universities nationwide participated has made the preparation for the forthcoming FASU games much easier for the university.
“So, what we couldn’t provide that time such as tracks have now been put in place,” she said.
Ogunsola pointed out that the contigents from UNILAG had prepared to welcome their counterparts from across Africa and also go home with highest gold medals at the event.
She said the games event is designed to promote unity, heathy competition, youth empowement, academic excellence and talents.
She thanked companies that had come forward to support and partner with the two host universities on the even while calling on others as well as individuals to do likewise in any areas possible.
According to her, such support and partnership will play a great role in creating an environment where young athletes can excel and where the values of hard work and perseverance are celebrated.
She said the opening ceremony would be held on Saturday, September 21st, at UNILAG while the closing ceremony would be held on Saturday, September 28, at LASU.
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