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The 23rd Nigerian
Universities Games Association (NUGA) Games kicked off on Sunday at the
Sports Complex of the University of Benin after a six months delay.

President Goodluck
Jonathan, who was represented at the opening ceremony by the Director
of Human Resources, Federal Ministry of Education, David Momodu, called
on sports administrators to use the event as a preparation to select
athletes for the 2012 London Olympics. The president expressed optimism
that the games should bring out a “keen and thrilling competition,
replete with new records that will signal a sports renaissance in
Nigeria.”

According to him,
sports activities have become a veritable tool for infrastructural
development and not just for the physical and mind development of
competitors. “Some of the most popular personalities in the world today
are sportsmen and women or personalities involved in some way in the
administration of sports,” he said.

“The 23rd NUGA
Games to my mind could not have come at a more opportune time as it
signals the formal beginning of our preparations for the 2012 Olympic
Games in London and several other international competitions. In this
connection, I am happy to note that our National Sports Festival will
be coming up shortly to be closely followed by the West African
Universities Games. I therefore call on all competitors to take the
games seriously as success may mark a new trajectory in their lives.”

In this edition, there would be fifteen events with 84 universities
across the country participating. The host school, University of Benin,
came to the games with the largest contingent of 280. The Federal
University of Technology, Minna, and the host school opened the games
with a foot ball match.