PRESIDENT, Nigerian Private University Games Association (NPUGA), Dr. John Okoro has appealed to the National University Commission (NUC) to consider availability of good sports facilities and equipment before granting license to any private university in Nigeria.Dr Okoro who also is the Director of sports at Igbinedion University, Okada, Edo State made this plea at the just concluded fourth NPUGA games held at Western Delta University, Oghara, Delta State penultimate weekend.Also, he affirmed that regular visit should be made by the Commission to inspect the sports facilities on ground as it is being done with academic programmes adding that sports is an integral part of education.It could be recalled that a total of twelve universities took part at the Oghara Games 2011 in which nine Universities presented athletes and won medals while remaining three such as Babcock University, Ilishan-Remo, Ogun; Bowen University, Iwo Osun, and Ajayi Crowther University, Oyo were at the games despite not featuring athletes for the games.Furthermore, he noted 'At the level of NPUGA, we shall continue to provide effective leadership through our program arrival at helping our students to discover and showcase their God giving talents. In this regard, I wish to appeal to our Vice-chancellor to always sponsor the participation of their students to NPUGA program because of the inherent and accruable benefit attached to it,''It is pleasing to observe that NPUGA is already making mark in the international scene. It is pertinent to note that at the 10th All African Games held in Maputo, two students from Benson Idahosa University (BIU), Benin-City represented and won laurels in swimming and badminton games respectively for Nigeria,''This is just the tip of the iceberg, in future teams representing Nigeria in international competition will not be complete without athletes from private universities being part of it. It is in view of the above that I want to appeal to schools authorities of private universities in the country to arrange to have good and modern sports facilities, professional coaches and sports administrators in other to bring out the best in our students athletes that abound in our private universities.
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