The much-expected Sports University Idumuje Ugboko in Aniocha North Local Government Area of Delta State is now ready to commence both sporting activities and academic work.
Founder of the university, Prince Ned NNwoko, disclosed this to journalists during a guided tour of facilities on the campus.
Nwoko, who is the PDP Delta North senatorial candidate in the coming elections, emphasized that admission into the university would not be through JAMB but by natural talents in sporting events in addition to physical fitness of the student, adding that a 10-year-old child could be admitted provided that the child demonstrated his or her ability in any sporting events of choice.
He said that the university was fully prepared to groom students in four areas of sports, including Indoor sports, field events, track events, and special sports.
The politician affirmed that experts that wouldhandle the various departments were alreadyengaged.
“Opportunity to focus on sports is here to make a difference,” he said, adding that the university had been structured to combine both academic and sports which makes it unique and different from the conventional universities.
In a related development, the Director of Sport, Delta State Polytechnic Ogwashi-Uku, Mrs Patsusan Omoware, has said sport is the one thing that can announce one to the world.
She made the remarks in a chat with newsmen in her office at Ogwashi-Uku.
Omoware said the rector came and saw the school’s achievements in sport and deemed it fit to see how he could build on the present sport legacy in the institution by hosting Nigeria Polytechnics Games Association (NIPOGA) games come 2024.
She said hosting of NIPOGA games by the institution would enable it acquire facilities and equipment through the state government, Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), non-governmental organizations (NGO), companies, philanthropists and good-spirited individuals.
The sport director said hosting 2024 NIPOGA games would bring glory to the school, remove the students from evil social menace, adding that the 2024 events would give room to discover talents in sports, nationally, internationally, home and abroad.
She described the rector, Professor Emmanuel Achuenu, as a great lover of sport, a builder that came to build the institution, saying that the rector has planned to use his wealth of knowledge to develop sport in the institution.
Omoware said the rector had gone extra miles of drawing the plan and layout of the ultra-modern gigantic sport village inside the polytechnic.
She said the sport village would have twin indoor sports hall, international standard swimming pool, basketball hall, volleyball hall, badminton hall, lawn tennis court, table tennis hall, scrabble hall, chess hall, taekwando hall, judo hall and hockey pitch.
Omoware said with all these facilities in place, the polytechnic would attract clubs and other agencies to play tournaments.
