NUGA Volleyball Finals Spotlight Missed Opportunities, Fresh Momentum For The Sport
At a time when Nigerian volleyball is steadily gaining visibility, the 27th Nigeria University Games Association (NUGA) has exposed both the sport’s growing potential and the gaps that stronger technical support could fill.
Stakeholders of the Nigeria Volleyball Federation (NVBF) converged on Jos for the men’s and women’s finals, using the event as a platform to reconnect, scout talent, and advocate for deeper federation involvement in future editions.
NVBF Technical Director, Surveyor Timothy Samuel, noted that although the event was not on the federation’s official calendar, the NVBF attended to encourage the universities.
He praised the professional organisation of the Games but stressed that early collaboration with the federation would have elevated the technical quality.
“The competition is well structured,” he said. “We are here to support, but involving the federation earlier would have improved the technical organisation.”
The NVBF’s first female North Central Zonal Representative, Mrs Bolcit Barshep-Amakiri, acknowledged the high expectations, adding that some challenges were inevitable.
She lamented that national coaches were unable to scout emerging talent due to the late involvement of the federation.
“There are players who could have been invited to the national camp,” she said. “Because the federation was not carried along, that opportunity was missed.”
National Beach Volleyball Coach, John Iwerima, reaffirmed the federation’s long-standing support, recalling past editions such as Lagos, where the NVBF President personally attended and donated equipment.
He described the atmosphere at the Naraguta Campus beach venue as “wonderful” and urged stakeholders to look forward to Calabar 2026.
For Professor Dereck Orji, Chairman of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Sports Council and founder of the Spike-It Awka Tournament, the enthusiasm around the NUGA finals shows volleyball’s upward trajectory in Nigeria. He called for increased youth recruitment and consistent innovation to match global standards.
At the close of competition, Nasarawa State University clinched gold in the men’s event, Tai Solarin University of Education won silver, and Obafemi Awolowo University claimed bronze. In the women’s finals, Bayero University Kano emerged champions, while Taraba State University and Nnamdi Azikiwe University took silver and bronze respectively.
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