UNIJOS Vice-Chancellor Declares Readiness to Host 2025 NUGA Games in November

he University of Jos (UNIJOS) is fully prepared to host the 2025 Nigerian University Games Association (NUGA) Games, according to the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Tanko Ishaya. The highly anticipated inter-university sports festival is now officially slated to take place from November 6 to 16, 2025, at the university’s facilities in Jos.

Professor Ishaya reaffirmed the institution’s commitment during recent engagements, emphasizing that UNIJOS is redoubling its efforts to ensure all necessary facilities are in place for what he anticipates will be a groundbreaking event. This assurance comes after the NUGA Council approved a new date for the competition earlier this year, shifting it from initial proposed dates to allow UNIJOS to complete critical infrastructural projects.

The decision to move the dates to November was a result of thorough consultations between the NUGA National Executives, led by its President, Professor Engr. Mohammed Bawa (now deceased, with a new President likely in place), and the University Management. This shift was deemed necessary to ensure that major facilities vital for the smooth running of the Games are fully completed and functional.

UNIJOS has been actively engaged in developing and upgrading its sports infrastructure. Reports indicate that the university is developing 14 new sports facilities to accommodate the various events. Notable among these is the construction of a 10-lane Olympic-size swimming pool, a project seen as a significant milestone funded primarily through Internally Generated Revenue (IGR). The Vice-Chancellor has previously expressed optimism that once completed, all facilities required for a successful NUGA festival would be in place.

Beyond new constructions, UNIJOS is also reportedly in partnership with the Plateau State Government, through the State Sports Council, and other organizations including the Lutheran Church and Rayfield Tennis Club, to utilize their sporting facilities, ensuring that no aspect of the competition is compromised due to infrastructural constraints.

Professor Ishaya has expressed gratitude to the NUGA Council for granting the extension, which he stated provided the university with ample time to finalize preparations and ensure the completion of essential facilities. He envisions the NUGA competition as a platform to not only showcase the university’s sporting prowess but also to promote its facilities, with plans to potentially establish a Sports Institute in the future.

The University of Jos successfully hosted the 2025 FISU Trials from April 6 to 12, 2025, a national selection event for the FISU World University Games in Germany. This experience has further bolstered the confidence of the university and NUGA officials in UNIJOS’s capacity to deliver a well-organized and memorable national university sports festival.

With the Vice-Chancellor’s latest declaration and the concrete November dates confirmed, the University of Jos is set to welcome thousands of student-athletes and officials from across Nigerian universities, promising a grand sporting spectacle.