Benson Idahosa University (BIU) recently emerged as the overall winner of the Nigeria Private University Games Association (NPUGA) Championships, a sporting event that saw the participation of seven universities across the country. The championships were held at Elizade University in Ilara-Mokin, Ondo State, and featured student-athletes from Achievers University, Owo; Adeleke University, Ede; Benson Idahosa University, Benin; Elizade University, Ilara-Mokin; Fountain University, Osogbo, Osun; and Macpherson University, Ogun.
During the four-day event, which took place from March 19 to March 22, the athletes competed in five sports, including badminton, basketball, chess, tennis, and table tennis. BIU emerged as the champion with an impressive haul of 14 gold and 6 silver medals, while Achievers University came in second place with five gold, two silver, and seven bronze medals. Lead City University rounded off the top three with three gold, thirteen silver, and eight bronze medals.
Speaking on the significance of the championships, Mr. Akintunde Akinola, the President of NPUGA, explained that the event was a prelude to the Games proper, which are scheduled to take place in December. The NPUGA Games, which have been on hiatus for six years due to the outbreak of COVID-19 and security challenges in the country, are an important platform for promoting sports and encouraging the well-rounded development of students.
According to Akinola, Achievers University, Owo, has expressed its intention to host the Games, which were last held by Turkish Nile University, Abuja, in 2017. He noted that Achievers University has put in place the necessary facilities to host over 2000 athletes from 40 institutions expected to participate in the Games in December.
However, Dr. Wole Adamolekun, the Chairman of the Local Organising Committee, noted that out of the 15 institutions that were expected to participate in the championships, only seven eventually attended. The hiatus in organizing the NPUGA Games, caused by the outbreak of COVID-19 and security challenges in some regions of the country, has been a significant constraint. Many institutions are still wary of the risks of traveling by road for sporting events, and financial constraints have also affected participation in sports events. Adamolekun appealed to corporate bodies to support the organization of the NPUGA Games.
