The University of Jos (UNIJOS) has begun plans to establish a sports institute as part of its strategy to become a sports hub in Nigeria.
According to the university, the unique weather and scenic beauty of Jos makes UNIJOS conducive venue for international competitions and other outdoor activities.
The university said it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the International Sports University in South Korea to develop a comprehensive programme to enable the institute harness the talents that abound across the country in the various fields.
A statement on Monday by the Senior Deputy Registrar (Information and Publications), Abdullahi Abdullahi, said the project was announced when the university’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Tanko Ishaya, inaugurated the school’s sports committee, led by Professor Ishaya Pam.
Professor Ishaya said he is conscious of the promise he earlier made to the world that the university would host the best ever NUGA Games in the country next year and urged all stakeholders to ensure that the pronouncement is fulfilled.
He disclosed that the university is entering into strategic partnerships with a wide range of public-spirited organisations and institutions that will facilitate introduction of a comprehensive sports curriculum in the institution.
The Vice-Chancellor expressed confidence that the wealth of experience garnered by the chairman of the sports committee, Professor Pam, in sports administration, will help UNIJOS achieve the desired goals and make a historical mark.
He assured that all observations and advice by members of the committee would be urgently considered and appropriate action taken and charged them to ensure they deliver on their mandate.
Chairman of the Sports Committee, Professor Pam of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, College of Health Sciences, University of Jos, presented some findings of the Sports Committee on the current state of sports development in the university, which, he said, required considerable improvement to host a successful NUGA Games.
In the University’s Sports Committee are Dr. Nanfa Danjuma Kusa, Mr. Godwin Ankwai and Dr. Christopher Piwuna. Others are Mr. Usman Baba, Mr. Francis Agur and Dr. (Mrs.) Aisha Hirse, as well as Mrs. Lydia Julson, Mr. Abdullahi Abdullahi and Mrs. Ladidi Mafuyai, who is to serve as Secretary.
The Sports Committee, which is to serve for an initial period of two years, has three terms of reference, including overseeing all sporting activities in the university, ensuring that the school is optimally represented and actively involved in the forthcoming NUGA Games and making other suggestions or recommendations that may assist the committee in carrying out its assignment.
