ABU gets hosting rights for 29th NUGA games

Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, has received the provisional hosting rights for the 29th Nigerian University Games Association (NUGA) games scheduled for 2028.

This was contained in a statement issued by the Public Affairs Directorate office of the Vice Challencelor and made available to newsmen on Friday.

The Nigerian University Games (NUGA) is a biennial event that brings together student-athletes from universities across Nigeria.

“The award of the hosting rights was contained in a letter to the Vice-Chancellor by Ag. Secretary-General of the Nigerian University Games Association (NUGA), Yunusa M. Bazza.

“The letter, dated 3rd December, 2025, was at the instance of the Council of the Nigerian University Games Association, saying,’ the hosting right was contingent upon the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA),” the statement read.

Unique Open varsity wins Nigeria university flag football tournament

Additionally, the letter said NUGA Council would announce the specific dates for the great sporting events in due course.

“By this, the university is empowered to engage with both governmental and non-governmental organisations to build partnerships that would assure the success of the games in 2028.

The letter, according to the NUGA Ag. Secretary-General also granted the university the “green light to commence improvements” on its facilities, both sports-related and otherwise, in preparation for the event.

Receiving the letter of award for the hosting rights, the Vice-Chancellor, Ahmadu Bello University, Prof Adamu Ahmed, expressed excitement over the development.

Prof Ahmed explained that the hosting rights for the NUGA games aligned with the national policy for the development of the next generation of athletes in Nigeria through the university.

The Vice-Chancellor expressed joy for the opportunity to host the games again since the last time it hosted in 2001.

Ahmed also said the development was an added opportunity to build Nigeria’s economy around the sports value chain.

He stressed that the university was looking at the opportunity with a clear understanding of what the Nigerian government wanted out of the sports industry.