2026 NUGA: Otu Assures On Hitch-Free Games
Gov. Bassey Otu of Cross River has assured of his administration's preparedness to host a hitch-free 2026 Nigerian Universities Games Association, NUGA, in Calabar.
By Dianabasi Effiong
Gov. Bassey Otu of Cross River has assured of his administration's preparedness to host a hitch-free 2026 Nigerian Universities Games Association, NUGA, in Calabar.
He made this known during an inspection of facilities at the UJ Esuene Stadium alongside a team from NUGA and the management of the University of Calabar, UniCal, which won the hosting rights.
The governor, who also assured that Calabar was a youth-friendly, peaceful, and conducive environment for the games, added that the city's serene and green environment was also ideal for hosting national and international games.
"The field we are standing on today has produced some of Nigeria’s greatest football icons, including Uwem Ekarika, Etim Esin, and John Okon Ene, among others. The first captain of the national football team was a Calabar man, who led the team to England for competitive matches," Otu said.
Etim Henshaw was the captain of the first
team from Nigeria on a playing tour of Britain in 1949. He was also the skipper of Marine FC, which won the first Nigeria FA Cup.
Otu, who expressed gratitude over the return of NUGA to Calabar after 35 years, said that he was confident that the games would be a huge success with Papa Dorncklaimz Enamhe as Executive Secretary, NUGA 2026 Local Organising Committee.
He also noted the city of Calabar’s deep historical connection to sports, adding that Calabar remained the first city in Nigeria where football was played.
"Papa Dorncklaimz Enamhe is known for his dedication and commitment to any responsibility entrusted to him, and I have no doubt he will deliver excellently on this national assignment," the governor said.
Otu also reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to sports development.
According to him, his administration has significantly promoted sporting activities in Cross River State in the past two years.
Similarly, Papa Dorncklaimz said that Uwem Ekarika, Etim Esin, and John Okon Ene, whom the Governor earlier mentioned, had respectively played for Rovers FC of Calabar and Nigeria's senior National male football teams.
He added that football was first played in Calabar, while Calabar has the greenest stadium in Nigeria, the best basketball court, and a world-class Olympic-sized swimming pool, among others.
"A Cross Riverian was the first captain of the National team. A Cross Riverian was the captain of the first international tour of a Nigerian national team to the UK. Calabar is home to table tennis and world-class table tennis players. Calabar is home to the biggest carnival in Africa, where youths can interact properly.
"UniCal hosting NUGA after 35 years is huge for the state," Enamhe said.
Other officials present during the inspection visit included the State's Commissioner for Sports Development, Agnes Atsu; Senior Special Adviser to the Governor on Special Duties, Ekpenyong Akiba; Executive Secretary of NUGA 2026, Papa Dorncklaimz Enamhe; Mrs Opeoluwa Adeyemo-Anjorin, Chief Executive Officer; and Ugochukwu Osuji, Chief Growth Officer, among others.
UniCal was unveiled on Friday as the host of the 2026 NUGA Games by the Acting President, Nigerian University Games Association, NUGA, Dr Michael Ajibua.
With the 2026 hosting rights, the NUGA is back in Calabar after 35 years.
NUGA organises inter-university-level games in Nigeria to identify, nurture, and expose sports talents across Nigerian universities to participate in national and international sports meets.
In 1966, the University of Ibadan hosted the first university-level sports in Nigeria.
More than 80 universities in Nigeria are members of NUGA.
Membership cuts across private and public, state and Federal universities.
Though few sports were involved at the beginning, the number of sports has grown over time to no fewer than 16.
They include: Athletics, Badminton, Basketball, Chess, Cricket, Football, Handball, Hockey, Judo, Scrabble, Squash, Swimming, Table Tennis, Taekwondo, Tennis, and Volleyball.
Many athletes discovered at NUGA were nurtured to represent Nigeria at international competitions, including the African, Commonwealth, and Olympic Games.
Notable among such athletes are: Vincent Enyeama (Football, University of Uyo), Seyi Olofinjana (Football), Bisi Afoloabi (Athletics), Olumide Oyedeji (Basketball), Chika Chukwumerije (Taekwondo), and Olusoji Fasuba (Athletics).
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