The stage is set for the 22nd edition of the Nigeria Polytechnic Games, which will officially kick off on Saturday, April 5, at the Federal Polytechnic, Offa, Kwara State. A total of 53 polytechnics have registered to participate in the event, which will feature sports, cultural exchange, and economic activities.
According to the Chairman, Media and Publicity Committee, Dr. Oluwakemi Ogungbamigbe, the event will spread across eight days, from April 5 to 12. The contingents from different polytechnics will compete in various events, including athletics, football, basketball, volleyball, tennis, chess, scrabble, handball, badminton, table tennis, judo, and taekwondo.
The Secretary General of Nigeria Polytechnics Games Association (NIPOGA), Mallam Abubakar Abdullahi, revealed that 53 polytechnics with about 4000 athletes had fully registered for the games as of the time of filing the report. Some contingents have already arrived from several states, including polytechnics from Delta, Taraba, Bauchi, Rivers, Osun, and Ekiti State, amongst others, while other contingents were on their way.
The Rector of the Federal Polytechnic, Offa, Dr. Kadiri Kamoru, affirmed that the 22nd edition of NIPOGA would go beyond winning medals to foster friendship, inclusiveness, and social cohesion among students across the country. He noted that the tournament would serve as a springboard for talent identification and international sports participation.
“If we get it right at this level, we will be securing the future of Nigerian sports,” Dr. Kamoru said. “The 22nd edition of the NIPOGA Games has thus been tagged with the theme ‘Ijakadi 2024’. This phrase, ‘IJAKADI’, is deeply rooted in the rich cultural heritage of Offa, a historic town in Kwara State and the host community for the games.”
Dr. Kamoru explained that Offa is renowned for its traditional Ijakadi festival, a wrestling event that embodies equality, unity, and justice. He noted that the Nipoga Games will unite polytechnic students from diverse backgrounds, promoting competition on an equal footing.
“The Ijakadi festival’s emphasis on fairness and togetherness makes it an ideal theme for this milestone edition of the games,” Dr. Kamoru said.
The 22nd edition of the Nigeria Polytechnic Games promises to be an exciting event, with thousands of athletes competing in various sports. The event will not only provide a platform for students to showcase their talents but also foster unity and social cohesion among participants from different polytechnics across the country.
