NUGA Games help develop universities –Omole
February 14, 2014 by Sodiq Oyeleke
The Vice-Chancellor of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, Prof. Bamitale Omole, spoke with Sodiq Oyeleke, on the readiness of the university to host the games
How prepared is OAU to successfully host the NUGA Games?
We will be hosting the 24th edition of
the Games after we successfully bid and won the rights in 2010 and ever
since, we have been making preparations. Let me say categorically that
there is no university that has prepared as we did in the history of
NUGA. There is no crisis in OAU and our students know that this is the
time for us to work together with team spirit to ensure that OAU retains
its place of pride in Nigeria and Africa.
We are very prepared. We have in place
an eight-lane track that is certified internationally; our swimming pool
is set – only Cross River State has such in the whole of Nigeria. We
also have hockey and two cricket fields, handball, four badminton courts
and basketball courts among others are fully set. Apart from the modern
facilities, for the first time in the history of NUGA, there is an all
purpose centre for the sports activities to take place. We also have two
football fields and three tennis courts. Our athletes, management and
academic members are ready to see the major event happening in OAU and
at the end I can assure you that we will be adjudged the best ever since
the history of NUGA.
What measures have been put in place to ensure the security of participating students?
It goes without saying that when you
have a big fiesta, the issue of security comes in. For a place where we
are expecting about 7000 students/athletes excluding the officials and
the community, you will realise that there is a major need to provide
security. We have a security committee in place. The committee involves
the Nigeria Police Force, Federal Road Safety Corps, Civil Defence,
State Security Services and Man O’ War among others to ensure security
of lives and properties.
We know that security is unto God but we
have also acquired modern security gadgets that will make sneaking in
of arm very difficult and impossible. We take security seriously because
in a situation like this, miscreants and criminally minded people may
want to penetrate but we are prepared for them.
What do you think will make this edition different from others?
There all a lot of things that will make
the game distinct from other editions. First, everyone knows that OAU
is unique and our standard is high. We are different and that is why all
the sports starting from sports track and field events, badminton,
basketball, volleyball and all other events are all taking place on our
ground. All other previous universities that have hosted NUGA had their
venues scattered but ours will take place in the same OAU grounds. We
have about 15 events and about 60 universities have registered with us;
they will all be accommodated in our premises. Our target is to ensure
that others visiting athletes are overwhelmed by OAU students prowess
and agility. We have not only prepared our facilities, we are prepared
to get all the gold medals. We have given them target to meet and there
is a prize for every student that wins a medal.
How do you intend to maintain the facilities after NUGA?
We have learnt our lessons and that is
why people who come around commend us on how we have maintained our
structures. We have seen ahead and we will keep our facilities well
maintained. For instance, the swimming pool, three of our staff are
going out to Sweden to be trained, so that after the NUGA we can
continue the maintenance. It is part of our agreement with the company.
However, more importantly is the
sustainability. We plan to get government and other institutions to come
and rent the facilities. This will boost our economy and help to boost
our internally generated revenue.
What is the impact of NUGA on students and universities?
NUGA is not only a sporting event but a
major way of revamping, rehabilitating and again developing universities
infrastructure. NUGA come and go in universities but facilities remain.
We believe that NUGA will be an emporium of sporting activities in
Nigeria after this 24th edition. It will help our students to develop
and will give new respect to sport in Nigeria. We plan to use this NUGA
to be a renewal of sporting activities in the country.
http://www.punchng.com/sports/nuga-games-help-develop-universities-omole/
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