Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, Kaduna State, has been awarded provisional hosting rights for the 29th Nigerian University Games (NUGA), set for 2028, marking the return of the biennial event to the institution after more than two decades.
The Nigerian University Games Association brings together student-athletes from universities across the country to compete in various sporting events aimed at talent discovery and youth development.
The provisional hosting rights were confirmed in a letter dated December 3, 2025, addressed to ABU Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Adamu Ahmed, by the Acting Secretary-General of NUGA, Yunusa M. Bazza, following approval by the association’s council. The award is subject to the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement between the university and NUGA, with the council set to announce the exact dates of the games in due course.
The letter also authorised ABU to engage relevant government agencies and non-governmental organisations to build partnerships necessary for hosting the games successfully and to commence upgrades to its sports facilities.
Receiving the letter, Prof. Ahmed described the development as a major boost to the university’s sporting profile, noting that it aligns with the national agenda of nurturing the next generation of athletes through the university system.
“This opportunity fits squarely into Nigeria’s broader agenda of nurturing athletes from the grassroots,” Ahmed said.
ABU last hosted the NUGA Games in 2001. The Vice-Chancellor highlighted that hosting the games would also contribute to national economic growth by developing Nigeria’s sports value chain.
“It is an added opportunity to build Nigeria’s economy around the sports industry,” he stated, adding that the university fully understands the Federal Government’s expectations for sports development and its economic impact.
Ahmed emphasised that the games would go beyond student recreation, serving as a unifying platform for the nation despite prevailing social and economic challenges. He also noted the significance of the timing, as ABU had recently been designated one of Nigeria’s sports centres of excellence.
The Vice-Chancellor commended the NUGA Council for the confidence placed in ABU and assured that the university would justify the trust by organising a successful competition.
ABU boasts a long and proud sporting tradition, having produced some of Nigeria’s finest athletes, coaches, and sports administrators over the years.
“We believe in the power of sports as a unifying force and a tool for youth development,” Ahmed said, noting that sports have evolved beyond leisure into a multi-billion-dollar global industry. He pledged that ABU would maintain a strong working relationship with NUGA before, during, and after the games to ensure their success.
