The 11th Africa University Games, Lagos 2024 were opened by the FISU-FASU-NUSF Seminar on 21 and 22 September. They will run until the Sunday 29 September.
The landscape of university sports in Africa took a significant step forward with the successful hosting of the 2nd FASU Vice Chancellors Forum and the 5th FISU-FASU-NUSF Seminar. This two-day event, held from 21-22 September at the University of Lagos, Nigeria, brought together key university sports stakeholders to explore strategies for empowering and advancing university sports on the continent. The event, themed “Empowering University Sports: Pathways to Excellence,” was held leading into the 11th Africa University Games, Lagos 2024.
The event started with a welcome message from the FISU President, Leonz Eder, who joined virtually while the co-hosting vice-chancellors, Prof. Folasade Ogunsola (Vice Chancellor, University of Lagos) and Prof. Olatunji Bello (Vice Chancellor, Lagos State University), along with Dr. Decius Chipande (Head, African Union Sports Council), were in attendance. The gathering attracted vice-chancellors, sports directors, and student leaders from universities across Africa, highlighting the critical role of leadership in the growth of university sports.
In his welcome address, Leonz Eder urged African universities to continue striving for excellence in university sports and to support one another in achieving remarkable progress. He emphasised FISU’s commitment to collaborating with FASU to further promote university sports across the continent.
A catalyst for national development
A major highlight of day one was the keynote address, “The University Sports in Africa: The African Union’s Vision,” which set the tone for the discussions that followed. The keynote insisted on the role of university sports as a catalyst for national development and its alignment with the African Union’s goals of promoting unity, education, and health across the continent.
The next session for vice chancellors was about “Unlocking Potential: Strategies for Elevating University Sports Programs and the Value of Hosting Mega Sports Events for Institutional Development.” This session provided an opportunity for university leaders to share their experiences and explore practical ways to improve sports programs, drawing on successful examples from both African and global institutions. They also shared solutions on how to better organise mega sports events and their benefits to both the institution and students.
This was followed by a presentation by a representative from the Delegations Service of the upcoming Rhein-Ruhr 2025 FISU World University Games, which provided valuable insights for African universities that plan to participate.
Day two was dedicated to the ‘FISU-FASU-NUSF Seminar.’ One of the key topics of the day was ‘Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion’. In a dedicated session titled ‘Safeguarding in University Sports: Promoting a Culture of Safety, Integrity, and Inclusion’, Prof. Ayoka Mopelola Olusakin addressed the importance of creating safe environments for all students and athletes, regardless of gender, background, or ability. This discussion emphasized the need for robust safeguarding policies to prevent abuse, discrimination, and harassment in sports.
Student-athletes from 14 countries gather in Lagos
On Saturday, 21st September, the Egyptian Minister of Sports and President of the Federation of African University Sports (FASU), Ashraf Sobhy, officially declared open the at the University of Lagos (UNILAG). The games, which run from 20 to 29 September, mark the first-ever co-hosting in the history of the competition by two prestigious Nigerian universities, UNILAG and Lagos State University (LASU). The theme of the games is ‘Unite, Compete, and Excel’.
Representatives from across Africa, including Angola, Botswana, Burundi, Egypt, Ghana, Guinea-Conakry, Kenya, Libya, Mauritius, Nigeria, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia, representing 65 Universities are participating in the games, showcasing the continent’s sporting excellence and unity.
In his opening remarks, Minister Sobhy highlighted the event’s significance and emphasised the importance of fair play and camaraderie among the athletes. “It is history made, and I expect fair and competitive games. I also expect good collaboration among the athletes. We are happy for the collaboration of the African universities and their participation. Everyone in Africa thanks you. We must keep the track going. Thank you to Nigeria, and I wish the athletes all success,” he said.
The president of the Nigeria University Games and chairman of the organising committee for the 11th FASU Games, Bawa Mohammed, echoed Sobhy’s sentiments, noting the broader impact of the games on Africa’s youth. “These games are for the future of Africa. We are privileged to witness this 11th FASU Games, especially for our youth,” Mohammed remarked. “Nigeria last hosted the games 20 years ago, and it may not return for another 20 years. This is a historic opportunity for our athletes.”
The 11th All Africa University Games promise to be an unforgettable event as athletes from across the continent come together to compete, forge friendships, and demonstrate the unity and talent of Africa’s youth.
Written by Chidiebere Ezeani, pictures courtesy of the organising committee
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