Preparations of the University of Lagos for the forthcoming NUGA-UNILAG 2022 games received further boost on Monday, March 14, 2022 when Parallex Bank Limited donated six million naira (N6,000,000).
The Managing Director, Mr. Olufemi Bakre, led the Parallex Bank team to make the presentation. A 1987 alumnus of the university, Mr. Bakre expressed delight at being back at his Alma Mater in a contributory capacity. He emphasised the readiness of Parallex Bank to take an active part in the NUGA Games; and thereafter, to become a very present partner for the UNILAG in the advancement of its development aspirations.
The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, FAS, expressed his gratitude for the support; and used the opportunity to appeal to other members of Corporate Nigeria to come on board. He reiterated the determination of the University of Lagos to use its hosting of the NUGA Games to revitalise institutional sports and youth development in Nigeria.
On the same day, and in continuation of his contact and mobilisation efforts for a successful hosting, the Vice-Chancellor led top shots of the university and some Student Ambassadors to the corporate Head Office of Guaranty Trust Holding Company (GTCO), a foremost Nigerian financial institution, at Victoria Island, Lagos. He was there to present the NUGA Torch of Unity to GTCO as the Lead Sponsor of the tournament.
The Vice-Chancellor commended the financial giant for its support of youth development in the country, demonstrated over the years with the many youth-friendly initiatives that it has generously bankrolled. He informed the company of UNILAG’s development of youth entrepreneurship and technology innovation; and invited their generous support for it.
Mr. Segun Agbaje, the Group Chief Executive Officer of GTCO, was full of praise for the Vice-Chancellor and the management team. Citing the very popular Principal’s Cup as example, he made the point of GTCO’s commitment to instilling the virtues of sportsmanship in young people, and to encourage them to apply such to life and business. He spoke of the transition of the Guaranty Trust brand into a Holding Company, and how that development holds lot of opportunities for young, brilliant minds – the likes of which are produced at the University of Lagos. He expressed hopes that the company would soon be working closely with the technology incubation hub at the university.
The NUGA-UNILAG Games 2022 is the 26th edition in the series of university games in Nigeria and will commence on Wednesday, 16th March, 2022. It is the 4th time that the University of Lagos will be hosting it. It promises to be a city-wide game, as the University of Lagos is set to host 75 universities from all over the country, about 6,000 athletes, 500-plus officials, 200 sports journalists, 5,000 guests, 100,000 live spectators, and over 5million television viewers globally.
