By Our Correspondent
The Executive Director of Lotus Bank, Mrs Kafilat Araoye, has called on governments and Nigerian universities to create a conducive environment for sports to foster unity.
TheNewsZenith reports that Araoye said sports would also encourage healthy competition and promote global excellence for students.
She made the call at the opening of the 11th Scientific Conference of the Federation of Africa University Sports (FASU) in Lagos.
The University of Lagos (UNILAG and Lagos State University (LASU) are jointly hosting the weeklong FASU Games 2024.
“Fostering Unity, Healthy Competition and Global Excellence through University Sports” is the theme of the Game.
According to her, university sporting activity is like successful teams in the banking sector.
“It is about building unity, promoting healthy competition and creating platforms for growth and excellence.
“Games have a long and rich history as an essential part of human civilisation.
“Sport has been instrumental in uniting people, transcending political and social divides.
“In African universities, the dusty pitches and game courts have produced national champions.
“They have also showcased world-class athletes who inspire and remind us of the strength and potential of our continent,” Araoye said.
In fostering healthy competition, she noted that student-athletes’ well-being and physical and mental health were important.
“As competition intensifies, so does the pressure on these young individuals to succeed, sometimes, at all costs.
“This can make them vulnerable to taking performance-enhancing drugs and other harmful substances,” Araoye said.
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Speaking at the event, Prof. Folasade Ogunsola, Vice-Chancellor of UNILAG, remarked that sports remained one of the most potent forces for building bridges across cultures.
“It is fostering collaboration and cultivating resilience and discipline among the youth, preparing them for leadership,” TheNewsZenith quotes Ogunsola as saying.
University sports, she added, also fostered understanding and promoted healthy lifestyles.
Ogunsola described the FASU Games as a beacon of unity. It created a platform for students from various nations to engage in healthy competition.
This is as they build friendships and networks that transcend borders.
In her opening remarks, Prof. Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello, Vice-Chancellor of LASU, said that the conference provided an opportunity to drive essential conversations about the role of university sports in Africa’s development.
Olatunji-Bello described university sports as a powerful tool for bridging divides and fostering a sense of unity.
She said the competition would lay the groundwork for a cohesive and collaborative sporting culture.
Such a culture, she added, would transcend regional and national boundaries.
“In recent decades, Africa has witnessed various divisions fueled by political, economic and social tensions. These are often exacerbated by competition for limited resources.
“Through sports, we have the unique opportunity to replace animosity with camaraderie, hatred with love, and rivalry with cooperation,” she said.
TheNewsZenith reports that more than 30 universities from African countries are participating in the competition.
Participating countries are Nigeria, Ghana, Zimbabwe, Egypt, Mauritius, Angola, Guinea, Zambia and Kenya.
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