By Austin Ogwuda
Sports University of Nigeria, Idumuje-Ugboko, Delta State, the first of its kind in Nigeria, West and Sub Sahara Africa has commenced the selection of over 100 students to enjoy scholarship award.
Already, competition preparatory to the selection for the award worth N2.5 million scholarship each student in addition to other accruing benefits has kicked off, nationwide.
It is currently holding at Ilaji Hotels and Resorts, Ibadan, Oyo State for the 2023 student/athletes’ scholarship trials which began on Friday 1st of September.
The Town Hall Media gathered that after the end of Ibadan trials expected to end on Wednesday and Abuja ending on Sunday, the exercise will move to the Southeast Zone in Aba between September 3 and 4, while the Delta State capital of Asaba will play host to the South South Zone on September 6 and 7 before the final trials holding in Delta State at a date yet to be fixed.
The Director, High-Performance Centre, Sports University of Nigeria, Dr. Bob Olukoya told newsmen that the sports-loving politician, Prince Ned Nwoko decided “to give scholarships to the students so that they can actualize their dreams considering the fact that many of the student athletes cannot afford the tuition fee”.
Dr. Olukoya noted that the selection for trials was done through advertisement so that the best would be selected for final phase in Asaba later in the year.
The trials will be in 18 sports categories made up of athletics, swimming, soccer, football, tracks and field, handball, basketball, volleyball, karate, cricket, para-Badminton, table tennis, tennis and golf amongst others.
Senator Ned Nwoko representing Delta North Senatorial District in the National Assembly and also President of Ned Nwoko Foundation/Chancellor of Sports University of Nigeria, Idumuje -Ugboko told this Reporter that “The Sports University is modelled to pursue the advancement of learning in specialised areas of sports development including management as well as to conduct specialised professional coaching courses, and research to advance various breakthroughs in sports.
“The misconception that sports hamper a child’s dedication to academic programmes isn’t true. While other higher institutions do sports as leisure, this Sports University would take sports in the academic world as a lifestyle to build careers that will enable individuals to make their mark and edge their exploits in accounts of history”.