Benson Idahosa University crowned champions as the 27th NUGA closes — a full, sourced retrospective

Benson Idahosa University crowned champions as the 27th NUGA closes — a full, sourced retrospective

The 27th Nigerian University Games Association (NUGA), hosted by the University of Jos (UNIJOS), ended as one of the most dramatic editions in recent memory: Benson Idahosa University (BIU), a private school, topped the gold-medal standings and was crowned overall champions. The hosts, UNIJOS, produced stirring home-ground moments and a historic mother–daughter squash double, and the Games were not without controversy, including disciplinary action linked to the women’s football competition. In this article, we synthesise the official results, on-the-ground reporting and NUGA/host statements to give a thorough account of what happened, who won, who lost, and what trended.

Quick facts & how the ranking worked

Events/sports: The Games staged 207 events across 22 sports (athletics, swimming, judo, boxing, squash, chess, football, table tennis, cricket, and more).
Official medals summary: a total of 675 medals were awarded: 207 golds, 196 silvers, 272 bronzes.
Ranking principle: NUGA, like most multi-sport events, ranks universities primarily by number of gold medals, then silver, then bronze, which explains why BIU (25 golds) were champion despite UNIJOS having the highest total medal haul (50 overall).

Final podium (top 5) — numbers you need to know

Benson Idahosa University (BIU) — 25 gold, 6 silver, 3 bronze — 34 total — 1st.
University of Jos (UNIJOS) — 18 gold, 15 silver, 17 bronze — 50 total — 2nd (hosts).
University of Benin (UNIBEN) — 15 gold, 9 silver, 10 bronze — 34 total — 3rd.
Delta State University, Abraka (DELSU) — 12 gold, 17 silver, 3 bronze — 32 total.
Lagos State University (LASU) — 10 gold, 14 silver, 15 bronze — 39 total.

(For a full ranked list, see the official table)

What the numbers tell us — quick analysis

Gold over totals: UNIJOS finished with the largest total medal haul (50) but fewer golds than BIU (18 vs 25), so BIU take the title. That pattern, a host with many podium finishes but fewer top spots, is common when ranking is by golds.
Private university success: BIU’s victory is notable because private universities do not always top national university multi-sport fixtures, dominated historically by large federal institutions.
Breadth of competition: With 22 sports and 207 events, the Games were broad, from esports and scrabble to strongman and cricket, showing NUGA’s continuing expansion beyond traditional athletics and football.

Standout performances & sporting stories that trended

BIU: dominance where it mattered

Multiple news outlets praised BIU’s impressive swimming and table-tennis teams for powering their gold tally. Their swimmers hit personal bests, and BIU’s table tennis contingent delivered match-winning performances across team and individual events.

Mother–daughter in squash

One of the most widely shared human-interest stories was the Christabel and Charity Dasbak pairing, a mother–daughter duo, that captured gold for UNIJOS in the women’s doubles squash event. Nigerian media described the moment as historic and emblematic of NUGA’s emotional moments for the hosts.

Read AlliNews' exclusive interview with the duo

Home advantage, many medals: UNIJOS also produced high placements across judo, athletics and team sports — reaching the biggest overall medal total at the Games (50). The hosts enjoyed vociferous home support across venues.

Athletics & Swimming — the medal factories

Athletics (37 events listed in the official schedule) and Swimming (30 events) were the biggest medal contributors. Universities with strong sprint, relay and field programmes converted depth into multiple podiums. The large event counts in these sports make them decisive in any overall medals race.

Football

The men’s football competition at NUGA 2025 culminated in a thrilling final where FUTMINNA (Federal University of Technology, Minna) defeated Ekiti State University (EKSU) 2–1 to claim the gold. In the bronze-medal match, Kaduna State University (KASU) secured third place, overcoming Taraba State University with disciplined midfield play. FUOYE emerged victorious in the women’s football final, thanks in part to a brilliant brace from Adeshina Bolanle Aisha.

Basketball

On the women’s basketball front, the University of Jos (UNIJOS) Lady Warriors produced one of the most memorable moments of the Games, edging out Nasarawa State University, Keffi (NSUK) with a tight 61–59 win in a hard-fought final at the Indoor Multipurpose Complex.

In the men’s bracket, NILE University showcased its dominance with a commanding 99–52 semifinal win over UNIJOS, fueled by sharp three-point shooting and lightning-fast breaks. Meanwhile, Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) edged past the University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID) 60–56 in a nail-biting semifinal to set up a showdown with NILE in the final. DEFENDING CHAMPIONS! NILE University triumphed 73–61 over ABU, successfully retaining the men’s basketball title they first won at the 26th NUGA Games in Lagos.

Other notable winners

University of Benin (UNIBEN) completed a strong campaign to finish third overall, with cluster strengths in sports where they historically do well (e.g., wrestling/taekwondo/judo and some racket sports).)

Controversies & disciplinary headlines

No major multi-university meet is without drama, and UNIJOS 2025 had its share.

1. Women’s football: walkovers, suspicion and a disciplinary outcome

Early in the competition, there were many walkovers, and this was attributed to several factors. Several teams did not turn up due to late accreditation, and alleged boycotting by some schools. As expected, the walkovers sparked controversy, with other schools questioning the rule.
Not long after the walkover controversy, allegations were made that UNIJOS had fielded ineligible/mercenary players in the women’s football competition. Not long after, there were reports that the NUGA disciplinary committee had banned the UNIJOS female football team for two years and fined the team ₦250,000 for fielding mercenary players. This sparked debate about eligibility and integrity in university sports.

Important context & caution: At the time of writing, the NUGA website had not immediately issued a full formal press release detailing the penalties. Readers should therefore treat specific sanction figures as widely reported but awaiting the formal disciplinary statement from NUGA for the final legal record.

2. Organisation and scheduling complaints

Several coaches publicly criticised event logistics and scheduling during the early days of the Games, claiming short-notice changes, facility access problems and travel/housing headaches for contingents. UNIJOS management and NUGA officials responded publicly, arguing that late arrivals by some contingents and last-minute accreditation problems forced adjustments. Such organisational friction is notable because it can affect athlete performance and the smoothness of results.

Prize money, recognitions & legacy notes

Coverage indicates BIU received prize recognition for topping the table; one report noted a ₦2 million prize for the champion school, an incentive that reinforces the rising professionalisation of university sport in Nigeria.
More broadly, the Governor and host statements emphasised NUGA 2025 as a showcase for Plateau State and UNIJOS facilities. The Governor of Plateau State, Barr. Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang framed the Games as an opportunity for peacebuilding, youth development and campus infrastructure legacy. UNIJOS published repeated updates about facility upgrades and hosting readiness across the run-up to the Games.

Finally, one of the main talking points in this year’s edition was the lack of readiness by the host university. Athletes had to travel long distances to get from venue to venue. Hostels were in poor conditions, and worst of all, some of the infrastructure seemed to still be under construction.

The tournament had some highs and some lows; we’ll leave it to you to determine which was more.