Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna State, has secured provisional hosting rights for the 29th Nigerian University Games scheduled for 2028, marking a return of the biennial event to the institution after more than two decades.

The Nigerian University Games Association bring 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 conveyed in a letter addressed to the Vice-Chancellor of ABU by the Acting Secretary-General of NUGA, Yunusa M. Bazza, following the approval of the association’s council.

Dated December 3, 2025, the letter, sighted by our correspondent in Kaduna on Friday, stated that the award was subject to the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement between the university and NUGA, while the council would announce the specific dates for the games in due course.

It also authorised the university to engage relevant government agencies and non-governmental organisations to build partnerships necessary for the successful hosting of the games and to commence upgrades of its sports and related facilities.

Receiving the letter, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Adamu Ahmed, expressed excitement over the development, describing it as a major boost to the university’s sporting profile.

He said the hosting rights aligned with the national policy on the development of 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.

The Vice-Chancellor noted that ABU last hosted the NUGA Games in 2001 and expressed joy that the institution would once again welcome student-athletes from across the country.

According to him, hosting the games also presents an opportunity to contribute to national economic growth through sports.

“It is an added opportunity to build Nigeria’s economy around the sports value chain,” Ahmed stated.

He added that the university was approaching the task with a clear understanding of what the Federal Government expects from the sports industry in terms of development and economic impact.

Ahmed said the games would go beyond student recreation, noting that they would serve as a unifying platform for the nation despite prevailing social and economic challenges.

The Vice-Chancellor further observed that the development came at a time when ABU had been designated as one of Nigeria’s sports centres of excellence, describing the timing as significant.

He commended the NUGA Council for the confidence reposed in the university and assured that ABU would justify the trust by organising a successful competition.

Ahmed said the university had 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,” he said.

He also noted that sports had evolved beyond leisure into a multi-billion-dollar global industry, pledging that ABU would maintain a strong working relationship with NUGA before, during and after the games to ensure their success.