“Sports help us bridge the existing youth unemployment gap. It helps youths make good use of their time” – Dr. Ajibua Alayode
As excitement and anticipation builds for the Varsity Cup commencing on the 15th of this month, collegiate sports in Nigeria is set to witness an unforgettable event.
Varsity Cup, a competition dedicated to elevating university-level sports continue to garner attention due its promising and potential impact on student-athletes and sports development in Nigeria.
In a recent interview; Dr. Ajibua Michael Alayode, Vice President of the National University Games Association (NUGA) discussed why Varsity Cup is the ideal partner for NUGA and the benefits of sports for student-athletes in Nigeria.
Dr. Alayode began by highlighting the profound advantages sports offer beyond the field of play noting its sociological, psychological and even cultural impact. “Sports has so many advantages,” He said, “including sociological, psychological, mental, cultural and even religious benefits”
He emphasized that sports provide experiences outside the traditional classroom which allow students to interact, learn and grow in ways that are impossible within academic settings.
One of the key sociological advantages of sports according to Dr. Alayode is its ability to foster interaction and teamwork among students. He also pointed out that sports play a significant role in addressing youth unemployment.
“Sports help us bridge the existing youth unemployment gap. It helps youths make good use of their time” He explained.
By keeping young people engaged and focused on improving their skills, sports can provide a pathway to a meaningful career whether in athletics or other professional fields.
Reflecting on Varsity Cup itself, Dr. Alayode expressed gratitude to the young minds organizing the event. He acknowledged their intelligence and leadership in promoting sports.“During my interactions with them, I have found out that they are very smart”
The NUGA Vice President went further to state that the future of sports marketing and sponsorship in Nigeria rests on the shoulders of private sport brands like Varsity Cup.
He encouraged the Varsity Cup team to not relent in their efforts, stating that the load on the government is already heavy and that additional sponsorship from private entities will help sports grow and thrive.
This private investment according to Dr. Alayode is essential for developing players and teams.
“Through the sponsorship and investment made in sports by Varsity Cup, players and teams are presented with a platform to develop themselves and NUGA recognizing the importance of such support was quick to accept Varsity Cup’s partnership offer” He stated.
Dr. Alayode affirmed that the collaboration between Varsity Cup and NUGA is designed to help student-athletes maximize their potential while developing their careers. “We want our student-athletes to make as much money as possible from sports and also develop in their career. It is our belief that Varsity Cup is a brand that can help us achieve this” He said.
The monetary rewards offered by the Varsity Cup is a major proof of Varsity Cup’s commitment towarrs sports develoment in Nigeria. The NUGA Leader specifically endorsed the ₦100,000 MVP prize saying “The money given to athletes is very good, it serves as a motivation to the athletes and provides them with extra motivation to train harder so I am really pleased with the ₦100,000 MVP prize”.
In a major milestone for gender inclusivity, the Varsity Cup is also making strides by including female football in its competitions. Dr. Alayode commended this development, noting that it builds on the success of the female football event at the last NUGA Games held at the University of Lagos.
“Now that Varsity Cup has a female edition, we’re elated and we commend them” He stated enthusiastically, urging fans to get ready for a thrilling 2024 Varsity Cup where in his words “every match will be a firework”.
