By Cyriacus Nnaji
The Federation of African University Games (FUSU) 2024 edition tagged Lagos 2024, has come and gone but the experiences, friendship, networks built will continue to reverberate for ages. Even much more gladdening and grandiose was the sophistication of this year’s games where records were broken not just in the sports but even in the infrastructure added to the games.
Co-hosted by two highly reputable citadels of learning, the Premier University, that is the University of Lagos (Unilag) and the very best state university in Nigeria, the prestigious Lagos State University (LASU), these are giants in their various catchment areas. The two institutions situated in the very centre of excellence and aquatic splendor did not only agree to co-host, they made sure that the objectives of the highest ranked tertiary institutions’ game on the soil of the African continent, was realized. They also ensured that latest and modern facilities were made available for the game in record time, thereby putting Nigeria on African map of excellence.
For the first time in the history of the game, the Video Assisted Referee was used in the football matches during the game; this was not just by accident, but indicative of the seriousness, the tailored planning using experts and correspondingly rolling out funds to make sure that all the requirements in terms of facilities and logistics were put in place. Movement of people from UNILAG to LASU was made top-notch and seamless and the entire exercise was concluded successfully
Recall that the 2024 edition marked the second time Nigeria hosted the game, having played host to the third FASU Games in 2004 at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University in Bauchi. The event not only commemorated 50 years since the inaugural FASU Games but also showcased Lagos as a hub for collegiate sports in Africa.
Indeed, with confirmation of satisfaction with the arrangements for the games by the local organizing committee for the games, the D-Day finally arrived and the colourful opening ceremony was held at the UNILAG Sports Complex on Saturday, September 21, 2024, marking the return of competition to Nigeria for the first time in 20 years.
Looking at the entire arrangement nobody was left in doubt with resplendent display of colours and banners announcing the formal arrival of the contingents who matched in a parade led by the UNILAG Command of Man-O-War.
It was an occasion of very powerful, inspiring and nostalgic speeches from key figures in African university sports. First was the President of the Nigerian University Games Association (NUGA), Engr (Dr) Bawa Muhammad, who welcomed the athletes and encouraged them to “make history at the Games.”
The Vice-Chancellor of the digital university (LASU) Prof. Ibilola Olatunji-Bello expressed gratitude to FASU for granting Nigeria the hosting rights and thanked the Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu for his generous support. While addressing the athletes, the Vice Chancellor stated, “You have trained tirelessly for this competition, and it is time to unleash your talents in your hunt for gold and glory.”
For the UNILAG’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Folasade Ogunsola, she welcomed the athletes and emphasised the importance of unity and collaboration. “Today, we celebrate collaboration, a great team spirit, and that is the spirit of Africa that we want to see prevail. I’m asking you to come together and prove the truth of Africa’s capacity to Unite, Compete, and Excel.”
For the opening ceremony, the highlight of the evening was the official declaration of the Games’ opening by the FASU President, Dr. Sobhy Ashraf, who is also the Minister of Youth and Sports of the Republic of Egypt. He lit the ceremonial torch, thus symbolising the beginning of the competition. Later both host Vice-Chancellors held a press conference, where they re-affirmed their commitment to hosting a memorable event. Of course, the 11th FASU Games promised to be a showcase of African talent, determination, and unity in the coming days and in the end it lived up to its bidding.
Over the course of the game 70 universities across Africa arrived Nigeria with 843 athletes, 590 male and 244 female; 185 institutional officials, 135 male, 50 female, to compete in 17 sports. In all 21 universities from 13 countries participated: Ghana, Burundi, Guinea, Uganda, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Botswana, Angola, Tanzania, Kenya, Egypt, Mauritius, among others.
At the end of friendly hostilities, fireworks, sporting aggressions and friendships in the field of play, American University in Cairo came all the way from Egypt to emerge the overall winner of the 11th edition of the All-African University Games hosted by Lagos State University and the University of Lagos.
The American University in Cairo garnered 46 Gold, 28 silver, and 8 bronze, totalling 82 medals to come first, LASU on the other hand, amassed 28 Gold, 30 silver and 40 bronze medals making it 84 to place second, while the University of Lagos made it to the third position winning 25 Gold, 33 silver and 40 bronze medals totaling 98 medals.
While expressing her joy, the Vice Chancellor, Lagos State University, Professor Ibiyemi Ibilola Olatunji-Bello, in her Welcome Address, during the Closing Ceremony of the games on Sunday, 29th September, 2024 at the Lagos State University Main Campus, Ojo, she expressed appreciation for the proud and laudable achievements by the institution hosting the first international sports competition in its 42-year of existence.
She averred that when the reports of the Games are being written, it would be said that LASU and UNILAG collaborated to host one of the best Games so far. “Indeed, looking back at our achievements in these games, we are proud of ourselves for giving Africa an exciting and entertaining African University Games. We gave a platform where new friendships and alliances were formed across countries and among the students.
“Lagos 2024 demonstrated how sports can serve as a tool to African unity. Together with UNILAG we have given Lagos and Nigeria a worthy representation,” said asserted.
The LASU VC thanked the great people who made the event possible. “I want to say a big thank you to the Federation of African University Sports (FASU) and the Nigerian Universities Games Association (NUGA) for the confidence they reposed in us to host the 11th edition of All-African Games. I am confident that our experiences here and what we have learnt during the competition will assist favourable and positive transformations that will impact the hosting of future games. For us in LASU, we are already looking forward to hosting another edition in the nearest future,” she said.
Also in what she termed ‘My Note Of Appreciation’ the Vice Chancellor, Lagos State University wrote to her esteemed colleagues and world-class students of her institution “Last night, Sunday, 29th September 2024, we concluded a new chapter in LASU’s history with the closing ceremony of the 11th All Africa University Games. That ceremony was the culmination of weeks and months of intricate planning and round-the-clock work by many of our members of staff and students who were directly involved in the organisation of the Games.
“This morning, I woke up proud and fulfilled about the outcome of the sheer audacity that we displayed as a university community to co-host the whole of Africa alongside the University of Lagos. What a glorious dawn for our university! What a happy day that we successfully pulled off hosting the first international competition in our university’s 41-year history! Against all odds, we did it and even outdid ourselves! We can be proud of ourselves. This is our story; this is our song: We successfully hosted the whole of Africa and emerging as the first runners-up and the best in Nigeria was the icing on the cake,” she concluded.
Also at the closing ceremony, Prof Folashade Telulope Ogunsola, Vice Chancellor, University of Lagos, in her speech said, “I was filled with gratitude and pride that over the last few days we have witnessed not just sporting Excellence, but also the spirit camaraderie that unite us across different countries. In line with the theme of the game, ‘Unite, Compete, Excel” we have witnessed extraordinary talents and determination from across our students athletes showcasing the very best our continent has to offer.
“Each competition has not only highlighted each individual’s skills, but has also fostered team work, resilience and respect, values that are vital both in sports, and leadership, it has also provided opportunity for healthy competition and great sportsmanship which has been at every turn,” he highlighted.
Prof Ogunsola stated that the athletes are the embodiment of hope and inspiration and challenged them to carry the lessons learnt from the event to their various universities and countries. “You have not only competed for medals, but have also represented the spirit of unity that is essential in our pursuit of excellence. As you return to your universities, carry with you the lessons you have learnt and the bond you have forged here. Let us remember that the mission for the game extend beyond this sphere,” Prof. Ogunsola stated.
For Bawa Mohammed, NUGA President and Chairman Local Organising Committee at the closing ceremony, he disclosed that this year’s edition of FUGA was a special one, “It is a special one in the sense that we are facing global recess, but yet we have more athletes than ever, and we have it in such a way that we are not having any dispute unlike other FASU Games in the past, but this one was quite successful and I think it is historic, and then in terms of technological application for the game, it is this edition that started the use of VAR, that is the video assistant referees, after South Africa in the whole Africa. So it is a record that was set.”
On what was spent hosting the tournament, he said “If I tell you each university has spent less than a billion Naira, I think it is an understatement, but I may not know the infrastructure involvement, but in terms of the logistics, I can tell you we have spent over 80 million in feeding the students, and officials, there allowances is also ranging over N30 million. So about N110 million is involved in running this; that is without considering the fuel, without considering the transportation system, just feeding and accommodation alone.”
According to him, apart from the students having the opportunity to network, make friends across the continent and compete favourably amongst their peers, the excellent facilities provided for the Games will enhance the students’ performances in various sporting activities. ”I’m highly delighted with the excellent organisation of the two Universities that made the Games hitch free and the Games one of the best organised in the history of the championship.
He said, “The two Vice Chancellors are great Amazons who must be commended for writing the country’s name in gold. The face-lift they gave to the facilities in their various institutions must be commended and the students will find them useful in their preparations for NUGA Games, National Sports Festival or the next edition of FASU Games in Egypt.”
In the end special partners were appreciated, the Governor of Lagos, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu for massively supporting the games, FASU, NUGA, Lotus Bank, the official bank, Coca Cola, Samsung, Capital Express, System Specs, Hogg Robinson, among others, not forgetting the traditional institution represented by Oba Saheed Elegushi of Ikate Elegushi Kingdom in Lagos State for his unwavering support.
