Professor of Human Kinetics and Health Education, Clement Fasan, has called for a change in the narrative of the Nigerian University Games Association (NUGA) Games and Institutional Sports.
He made this call while speaking on the central theme, “Repositioning Institutional Sports for Excellent National and Global Impact”, at the 26th NUGA Scientific Conference organised by the University of Lagos at the Nurudeen Alao Auditorium, DLI, on Wednesday, March 23, 2022.
Prof. Fasan made a strong case for the need to revamp NUGA and institutional sports from the ground up. In doing this, he critically examined NUGA operations and institutional sports governance and management, he noted that there was a need to go back to the drawing board and put in the necessary tools, mechanisms and strategies; in order to make NUGA great again. He stated that repositioning NUGA as an institution, a product, a brand, a business, a technological tool and a worthy partner in talent identification is now a must.
During the course of the speech, the Keynote Speaker delved into the challenge of definition of Sports and Institutional Sports; the structure of institutional sports; SWOT Analysis of NUGA and Institutional Sports; as well as NUGA and benchmarking with best practices.
Professor Fasan also called for the repositioning of institutional sports through branding, as there exists a symbiotic relationship between academic and sports brands. In conclusion, he noted that repositioning of institutional sports and NUGA is a clarion call to all of the need to remain relevant and move with the current trend in sports development nationally and globally, as well as look at the foundation of institutional sports and NUGA, whilst rejuvenating and reinforcing where there is structural disequilibrium.
The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Oluwatoyin T. Ogundipe, FAS, ably represented by the Alternate Chair, LOC NUGA Unilag and Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Development Services, Prof. Ayodele Atsenuwa, while delivering a brief speech, revealed that the University of Lagos is hosting the Games for the fourth year; it had hosted it in 1968, 1978, 1998 and had bid for hosting rights in 2018. She said that the University decided to, along with the sporting events, spice things up with a twist of academic and scientific which will feature presentation of scholarly papers, and discussions on different ground-breaking researches from various universities across the country.
The Chairman, NUGA Scientific Conference Committee, Prof. Grace Otinwa, in her welcome address, stated that the aim of the Conference is to maximise all potentials of sports and identify opportunities that could lead to best practices. Participants would also share their experiences in a thought-stimulating manner during the breakout sessions. She mentioned that authors who submitted abstracts were grouped into three categories, technology, humanities and health & science. She also disclosed the modalities for the Conference.
The President of the Nigerian University Games Association, Prof. Stephen Hamafyelto, in his address, revealed that the Association, UNILAG and LASU are in conversation with the Federation of Africa Universities (FASU) to host the FASU Games scheduled for 2024. He urged participants and attendees to take advantage of the papers presented at the Conference in order to grow sports in Nigeria as well as globally.
The opening session also featured goodwill messages from the Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Mr. Sunday Dare represented by Assistant Director Physiotherapist, National Sports Commission, Mrs. Adaku Nwachukwu and the Secretary-General of FASU and representative of FISU (International University Sports Federation), Ms. Penninah Kabenge Aligawesa from Uganda.
Attendees were also thrilled to a scintillating dance performance by students of the Human Kinetics and Health Education Department, Faculty of Education.
The Conference featured a couple of panel discussions and plenary sessions and finally, a general session/briefing by the NUGA Executive Secretary, Dr. Joseph Awoyinfa.
Watch the NUGA Scientific Conference below:
