By Ikenna Nwokedi
The Nigerian Universities Games Association (NUGA) President, Comrade Emeka Ogbu on Friday, 7th October 2022 paid a courtesy visit to Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK) Awka, Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Charles Esimone.
The visit by the NUGA supremo was to identify with Prof Esimone’s administration and thank him for his contributions both morally and financially towards the development of sports to UNIZIK and University System.
Comrade Ogbu stated that Prof. Esimone’s interest and commitment towards sports development to the epicentre of academic excellence speak volumes in terms of students’ participation, infrastructural development, student exposure, attendance to events and sports programmes within Nigeria and beyond.
He emphasized that sports has many political and socioeconomic benefits not only in the University system but to the educational system and the entire society.
According to him, sports presents a forum for social osmosis amongst students and the University Community which promotes harmony, development and progress.
He advised Prof. Esimone not to take his foot off the gas with his support towards sports growth and development.
In his reaction, UNIZIK Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Esimone congratulated Comrade Ogbu on his election as the President of NUGA.
Prof. Esimone stated that Sports is one of the cardinal points with his vision for ‘Project 200’, stating that Universities in the United States of America and beyond are rated highly because of sports excellence and advertisement.
Prof Esimone promised to partner with his administration as NUGA President towards ensuring that he achieves his set goals and vision.
To attain the position of the NUGA President, Comrade Ogbu hitherto served as 1st Vice President under the outgone President, Prof. Stephen S. Hamafyelto and was one time Director of Sports at the Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT).
The soft spoken sports administrator was elected the NUGA President at the elective congress held during the 26th NUGA hosted by the University of Lagos in March 2022.
Present during the visit of the NUGA President were the Chairman, University Sports Committee, Dr. Dereck Orji; the institution’s Director of Sports, Mr. Kenneth Ogbonna; Director of Sports, Paul University, Mr. Joe Umudu; a member of the UNIZIK Sports Committee, Engr. Dr. Ikenna Nwokedi and a staff of the institution’s Sports Directorate, Mr. Elochukwu Ezeonu.
