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BARWA SET THINGS STRAIGHT AS TEAM NIGERIA REVS UP FOR THE FISU GAMES

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BARWA SET THINGS STRAIGHT AS TEAM NIGERIA REVS UP FOR THE FISU GAMES

NUGA Trials Begin in Jos and the NUGA President has made the objectives very clear.

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The road to the 2025 FISU Games officially began on April 7th at the NDLEA Academy in Jos, where NUGA held a technical meeting with university sports coordinators and coaches. It wasn’t business as usual, as there was a clear shift in tone, driven by fresh ambition and firm directives.

NUGA President, Engr. Hamidu Barwa, told attendees that the National Sports Commission (NSC) had agreed to support Nigeria’s preparations for the international university games. With that backing, he said, Team Nigeria must deliver something different this time.

Barwa pointed out that since 1998, the country had failed to make the FISU medals table despite repeated appearances. He urged the universities to select only the best athletes, warning that sentiment or politics would no longer be tolerated. He also called on everyone present to match his level of commitment and passion.

Technical Director Prof. M.G. Yakasai, who spoke earlier, also echoed the merit-based approach. He informed the coaches that just like their athletes, they were also being assessed. He made it clear that selection for the FISU delegation would not be based on position or school but strictly on quality and contribution.

The meeting, which started after 5pm, ended with coaches and coordinators splitting into smaller groups to plan for the upcoming trials in their respective sports.

Yakasai added that NUGA is planning an intensive training camp for athletes who qualify, promising a top-tier experience in preparation for the games, all of which hinged on the materialization of the promised supports, as the President later made clear.

At the ongoing FISU trials in Jos, seven sports will feature: taekwondo, judo, athletics, badminton, swimming, tennis, and table tennis. The University of Jos will host taekwondo and judo, while other sports will be held at various venues across the city.

There’s a renewed sense of purpose in the air. With strong backing and a no-nonsense approach, NUGA is aiming to end a long medal drought and rewrite the country’s FISU story.

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