The Nigerian University Games Association (NUGA) has approved a new date for the 2025 edition of its prestigious competition, set to be hosted by the University of Jos. The games will now take place from November 6 to November 16, 2025.
The announcement was made during the NUGA Annual Council Meeting held at the University of Jos, where the association’s national executives, led by President Professor Engr. Mohammed Bawa, paid a courtesy visit to the university’s management at the Council Chamber, Administrative Building, Naraguta Campus.
According to Professor Bawa, the decision to reschedule the event followed extensive consultations with key stakeholders. He explained that the new date would provide the host institution sufficient time to complete critical infrastructural projects necessary for a smooth and successful competition.
“After careful consideration and consultation, the NUGA Council agreed to move the competition to November 2025,” Professor Bawa stated. “This will allow the University of Jos to finish key infrastructural projects vital for the smooth running of the games. In past competitions, we have seen the risk of institutions losing project momentum when games take place without necessary facilities being completed, and we want to avoid that here.”
To formalize the arrangement, Professor Bawa announced that a Memorandum of Action (MOA) would be signed between NUGA and the University of Jos management to ensure adherence to the new schedule. He also encouraged the university to prepare its student-athletes for the upcoming West African Universities Games (WAUG), which will be hosted in Ghana. Disciplines expected at WAUG include track and field, swimming, badminton, tennis, table tennis, and taekwondo.
The immediate past NUGA President, Professor Stephen Hamafeyeltoin, advised the University of Jos to establish a Directorate of Sports, staffed with qualified personnel and professional coaches across various disciplines. He emphasized that such measures would improve the overall quality of sports at the university and better equip students for national and international competitions.
Responding to the development, the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Jos, Professor Tanko Ishaya, expressed gratitude to NUGA for granting the extension. He stated that the additional time would enable the university to complete essential facilities and make necessary arrangements for the competition.
“The rescheduling of the competition gives the university an opportunity to put all necessary structures in place and ensure the facilities are ready in time,” Professor Ishaya remarked. He added that sports play a crucial role in the university’s development plans, and the NUGA competition would serve as a platform to showcase its sporting facilities and contribute to the establishment of a dedicated Sports Institute at the institution.
Speaking on preparations for WAUG, the Vice-Chancellor assured that the university would adequately equip its athletes for the competition and ensure their strong representation.
Professor Ishaya Pam, Chairman of the University of Jos Sports Committee, also expressed appreciation to the NUGA Council for approving the new date. He emphasized that the extension would allow the university to finalize its preparations and complete necessary infrastructural projects. He described the upgraded facilities as “legacy projects” that would benefit future generations of students and athletes.
With the new dates confirmed, the University of Jos has reaffirmed its commitment to hosting a successful NUGA festival that will highlight the institution’s sporting prowess and capacity to accommodate a national-scale competition.