Kaduna — The Vice-Chancellor of Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, Prof. Adamu Ahmed, has commended the Federal Government’s decision to designate the institution and five others across the country as Centres of Excellence in Sports.
The other universities named include University of Nigeria, Nsukka; University of Benin; University of Ibadan; University of Jos; and Muhammadu Buhari University, Maiduguri.
The Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Olatunji Alausa, CON, announced the designation last week in Abuja while inaugurating a 20-member National Sports-Education Review Committee.
Reacting to the development, Prof. Ahmed described the recognition of ABU as both an honour and a call to higher responsibility.
“This recognition is most deserving. Ahmadu Bello University has a long and proud tradition in sports, having produced some of Nigeria’s finest athletes, coaches, and administrators. Beyond academics, the university has always believed in the power of sports as a unifying force, a tool for youth development, and a vehicle for building character and resilience,” he said.
According to him, ABU’s facilities, history, and human resources made it a natural choice as a Sports Centre of Excellence. He assured that the university would justify the confidence reposed in it by delivering excellence in sports for the benefit of the nation.
The Vice-Chancellor commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration for its foresight, saying the initiative aligned with the broader reform agenda of the Minister of Education, who has consistently advocated for diversification of university functions beyond classroom teaching.
Prof. Ahmed stressed that sports had grown into a multi-billion-dollar global industry, adding that Nigeria had the talent and youthful population to become a global sports powerhouse.
“What has been missing is a coordinated system that combines research, training, infrastructure, and talent management. Centres of Excellence such as the one designated in ABU can bridge that gap by serving as platforms for innovation, professional training, and commercialisation of sports,” he explained.
He expressed confidence that if properly harnessed, the initiative could stimulate job creation, attract investment, and contribute to diversifying Nigeria’s economy through sports.
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