By Abike Sanusi, LASU
Stakeholders have underscored the the advantages of sports in African universities, stressing that it can promote unity, healthy competition, and global excellence.
This was the consensus at the 11th edition of Federation of All Africa University Sports (FASU) Games Scientific Conference, 2024, held at the Lagos State University(LASU) main campus in Ojo.
The FASU games commenced last weekend with an opening ceremony that marked the beginning of a week filled with competitive spirit and camaraderie.
The University of Lagos(UNILAG) and Lagos State University(LASU), are joint hosts with eleven countries including Angola, Egypt, Ghana, Zambia, Botswana, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Nigeria, Kenya, Mauritius, Uganda, and Guinea participating. Several of these nations have multiple universities competing in the games.
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The theme of the conference: “Fostering Unity, Healthy Competition, and Global Excellence through University Sports,” esonated throughout the event as speakers emphasized the pivotal role of FASU sports in harnessing the athletic potential of African youth within tertiary institutions.
Vice Chancellor of LASU,Prof. Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello extended a warm welcome to all attendees, highlighting how FASU competitions have united athletes from across Africa, showcasing exceptional talent and academic prowess.
Olatunji-Bello underscored the competition’s potential to inspire innovation and best practices in sports among African universities.
She envisioned FASU as a platform for cultivating a more cohesive and collaborative cross-cultural environment that transcends regional and national boundaries, emphasizing how university sports can bridge divides and promote unity in Africa by eradicating divisive tendencies.
Vice Chancellor of UNILAG, Prof. Folasade Ogunsola, said the competition would change the landscape of sports in the African universities and nations growth.
She stressed that FASU would create a platform for university students and athletes from across the continent to engage in healthy competition.
Ogunsola noted that the competition is aiming at excellent team work, integrity and essential qualities that would transcend to the next generation of FASU.
Secretary General of FASU,Prof. Grace Olagunju stressed the critical role of sports in nurturing athletes and the academic community in Africa.
She described the conference as a testament to FASU’s dedication to fostering unity and excellence through sports, recognizing the indispensable contributions of the scientific and educational committees in advancing the games.
President of the National University Games Association (NUGA), Prof. Bawa Mohammed, outlined FASU’s commitment to addressing key challenges facing sports competitions in Africa through a communique aimed at proposing viable solutions.
Lotus Bank Managing Director/CEO, Mrs. Kalifat Araoye, the keynote speaker, emphasized the transformative power of sports in fostering unity and serving as a universal language that connects individuals from diverse backgrounds, cultures, and nationalities. She highlighted the inclusive nature of university sports in promoting unity, healthy competition, and global excellence.
