Sports
75 Universities For Maiden NUGA-AMK Foundation
The Chairman, Basketball in the Nigeria University Games Association (NUGA), Prof. Adamu Ahmed, says 75 universities will participate in the maiden NUGA Ahmadu Musa Kida (AMK) Foundation 3-A-Side basketball tournament.
Ahmed told newsmen in Kaduna last Monday that NUGA was collaborating to begin the novel annual competition, adding that the sponsorship was a breakthrough for university basketball and NUGA Games format.
He expressed optimism that the tournament would bring a new lease of life in university sports.
He explained that the 75 universities were expected to feature male and female teams making it the largest gathering of basketball teams in Nigeria.
“The maiden edition is slated to hold through two qualifying rounds at the University of Lagos (UNILAG) from February 16 to February 19, and the Ahmadu Bello University from February 23 to February 25.
“The final is billed for Abuja from March 2 to March 4, where the teams that qualified will battle for honours.
“A total of 43 teams are expected to compete at the UNILAG centre and 32 at the ABU centre.
“Five men and five women teams are to qualify from each centre to the final round of 10 men and 10 women teams at Abuja.
“The winners in each category are to represent Nigeria at the World Universities Tournament,’’ he said.
Ahmed said that the AMK-NUGA 3-A-Side tournament is one step toward instituting single sports annual tournaments to keep university students active all year round.
“AMK Foundation is proud to provide support for this transition, with its president having also suffered from the inadequacies of the biennial NUGA format, while playing active basketball at ABU.
“NUGA has historically maintained a biennial all comers games which has been criticised for limiting player development within the university system,’’ he said.
The AMK Foundation is a non-profit charity organisation with interest in youth empowerment through sports.
The President of the Foundation, Musa Kida, is a former senior national basketball player and board member of the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF), who also serves on the Board of Trustees of the ABU Basketball Foundation.
It could be recalled that AMK Foundation has for two years running been the sole sponsor of the West Africa 3-A-Side basketball tournament.
The foundation has also been the sponsor of the South-South 3-A-Side Basketball championship for two years, and last year, the IDP 3-A-Side Classics in Maiduguri.
The NUGA Basketball chairman said that the annual tournament would be used to select Nigeria’s team to the Global University 3-A-Side tournament each year.
Ahmed is a one-time national basketball team player and Chairman, Technical Committee of the NBBF.
The Bayelsa State government, yesterday, announced that the marathon will be held on Saturday, April 4, 2026.
The inaugural race is owned by the Bayelsa State Government and will be organised by Nilayo Sports Management Limited, a sports management company.
Under the theme “The Reveal,” the race represents a bold unveiling of Bayelsa’s immense human and cultural potential to the international community, inviting the world to witness the resilience, grit, and talent rooted in the heart of the Niger Delta.
According to the organisers, the race will be flagged off at 9:30 a.m., at the Opolo Roundabout, guiding participants through a carefully designed 10-kilometre route that highlights the scenic beauty and vibrant atmosphere of Yenagoa.
The course will culminate at Peace Park Square, where athletes will cross the finish line into a grand celebration of endurance, unity, and community spirit.
To elevate the experience for runners and spectators alike, the finish venue will host a high-energy post-race concert featuring performances from top A-list artistes, blending sport and entertainment in a festival-style atmosphere.
The organisers directed all registered participants to collect their race bibs and kits at the designated Peace Park Square between March 30 and April 3, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. daily.
The race, according to them, is currently on track for World Athletics accreditation, underscoring the commitment of both the Bayelsa State Government and Nilayo Sports Management Limited to delivering an event that meets the highest global standards.
The Director General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Bukola Olopade, on Friday continued the Commission’s nationwide appreciation tour with a visit to Abeokuta, where outstanding junior athlete, Majekodunmi Afusat Bisola, was presented with a cheque of N3 million.
The presentation forms part of the NSC’s initiative to recognise and reward exceptional junior athletes who distinguished themselves in 2025 and contributed significantly to Nigeria’s medal haul.
Majekodunmi delivered an impressive run of performances on the track. At the last edition of the National Sports Festival, she stormed to gold in the 400m and the 4x400m relay. She replicated the double triumph at the Confederation of African Athletics (CAA) Junior Championship, in Abeokuta, before emerging as one of the standout stars at the African Youth Games in Luanda, Angola.
Speaking during the presentation, Olopade explained that the Commission deemed it necessary to extend financial appreciation to grassroots athletes after elite performers had earlier received grants running into thousands of dollars.
“A few weeks ago, after paying grants to our elite athletes, we agreed tthere was a need to also appreciate these young, budding talents who made Nigeria proud last year,” he said.
He disclosed that of the 376 medals recorded by Nigerian athletes in 2025, more than 200 were won by grassroots talents, underscoring the importance of sustained investment in youth development.
-
News5 days agoDon Savours Inaugural Lecture Presentation, Commends VC
-
News12 hours agoPolice Arrest Nigerian, Two Others For Kidnapping In Edo
-
Nation14 hours agoPerm Sec Explains Success Of FGM Elimination Programme In Rivers
-
News12 hours agoNDLEA Arrests Ex-Councillor With 40kg Skunk, Recovers Drugs In Diapers
-
Nation14 hours agoOgoni Mangrove Wetlands Gain International Recognition As Ramsar Site
-
News12 hours agoArmy Foils Cattle Rustling, Kills Terrorists In Benue …Rescues Two Kidnapped Bank Staff
-
News12 hours agoFG condemns arrest of 42 Nigerians in Mozambique, demands immediate release
-
Business3 hours agoNigeria, AFC sign $1.3 billion deal to build alumina refinery