UNICAL’s NUGA Games postponed after months of preparations

The Nigerian University Games Association, NUGA, has postponed the 28th edition of its national games, scheduled to hold at the University of Calabar, UNICAL, Cross River State, from November 14 to 24, 2026, to 2027.

The postponement, announced in a statement on Thursday, came after months of preparations by the university, which had been mobilising resources and upgrading its sporting facilities to host the national competition.

In January, UNICAL formally received the NUGA hosting flag and signed a Memorandum of Agreement with the association, officially commencing preparations for the event.

The university’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Offiong Effanga Offiong, had subsequently announced plans to upgrade existing sporting facilities and construct new sports complexes, including an indoor sports hall and a tartan track at the Abraham Ordia Stadium.

In another measure to prepare student-athletes, the management announced that lectures would end at 1 pm on Wednesdays to enable them to devote more time to training ahead of the competition.

The university also constituted a Local Organising Committee and engaged stakeholders, while its management held meetings with sports administrators and consultants to coordinate logistics for the event.

At a media briefing in June, Offiong expressed confidence in the university’s preparedness, saying it was working with the Cross River State Government and security agencies to ensure adequate arrangements for participating institutions and visitors.

The games, tagged Paradise Games, were expected to attract universities from across the country for competitions in various sporting disciplines.

However, announcing the postponement on October 29, NUGA did not give reasons for shifting the competition to next year.

The association said revised dates and other arrangements would be communicated through its official channels in due course.

It also acknowledged the support of universities, student-athletes, sports administrators, partners and other stakeholders involved in preparations for the games.