COE Minna set to host NICEGA Games – Provost

From Yakubu Mustapha, Minna

With less than one week to the commencement of this year’s Nigeria Colleges of Education Games (NICEGA) to be hosted by the Niger State College of Education, the Provost of the College, Professor Farouk Haruna Rasheed says the college is set to host this year’s edition of the games expected to attract athletes from over 100 colleges of Education in the country. The Provost, who also doubles as the Chairman of the local organizing committee, (LOC) for the games disclosed this at an interactive session with newsmen at the college on Saturday shortly after undertaken facilities tour on the level of preparedness for the games.

He said despite the inability of the college to access some money approved for the games, the college has achieved 98% readiness for the game which the college is hosting for the first since it was established over 30 years ago. Professor Rasheed pointed out that the college received tremendous supports from the state government towards the successful hosting of the games, adding that all the equipment needed for the games are already in the country and are being test-run for the games. According to the Provost, “all the equipment that we imported from Japan for the games are already on ground and we currently test-running them readiness for the games”.

These, the Provost said includes electronic score boards, dedicated canopies, kits for the Athletes, among other things, adding that all other sports facilities for the games are ready. He however debunked newspapers reports that preparations for the games has been put on hold due to inability of the college to access the N5million approved by the Federal government for the games, saying that the report was misleading.

According to him “I have also received some supports from the Federal Government, and I know that we are also making efforts to get money from the Education Trust Fund (ETF) and hopefully we will get it before the commencement of the game.

“Like I said we have been able to get support from the state government and some multinational organisations who have given us Marcopolo Bus, an ambulance, four Hiace buses, water tanker, two tractors. We are however over 98% percent ready for games”. He said further that the LOC has been able to cope with the little supports it has received even though the College still expects more funds from donors, adding that the N50million expected from the Education Trust Fund (ETF) will go a long way in assisting the college for the games. Prof. Haruna however assured that guests, Niger state, participants and officials will witness one of the best NICEGA games ever hosted in the country as over 100 Colleges of education are expected in the state for the games.

He said the games will coincide with the 22nd regular meetings of committee of Provosts in Nigeria also to be hosted by the college in Minna.