Barely five months to the kick off of the 2024 edition of Nigeria Polytechnic Games (NIPOGA), the National Association of Polytechnic Students (NAPS) have kicked against moves to zone the hosting rights to North Central again for the third time.
The 2024 edition of NIPOGA is expected to hold in October at a zone yet to be announced, but the student body is of the fear that it might be zoned to North Central again.
To this end, the students called on the Minister of Education and his sports counterparts and others, as well as all Polytechnic Coaches to intervene in the matter to ensure justice and peace.
The students also noted that NIPOGA which is a biennial event was hosted on two consecutive times by
North Central, thereby denying other geopolitical zones the rights to host the game.
Addressing a press conference on Friday in Kaduna to express their grievances over another plan to take the game to the North Central for the fourth times, the National President of NAPS, Comrade Ridwan Opeyemi Munirudeen said it is the turn of the South South zone, specifically Delta State.
“As a body representing the interest of Nigerian Polytechnic Students, we received the speculation of zoning the forthcoming Nigeria Polytechnic Games (NIPOGA 2024) back to North Central, Federal Polytechnic, Offa, Kwara State, precisely, we condemn and reject such desperate move in totality.
“For record purposes, NIPOGA is a biennial event and it will interest you to know that the 18th edition was hosted by Federal Polytechnic, Bida, Niger State.
“The 19th edition was hosted by Federal Polytechnic, Nasarawa, Nasarawa State.
The 20th edition which was supposed to be held in the year 2019 was postponed to the year 2020 which was again hosted in the North Central region, Kwara State Polytechnic, precisely February 5th to February 16th, 2020.
“The 21st edition of NIPOGA was zoned to the Southwest and held in Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo, Ondo State in the year 2022 where Federal Polytechnic Ado Ekiti emerged as the overall winner and the NIPOGA flag was given to Delta State Polytechnic Ogwashi-Uku as the next host.
“Dr. Gani Ogundahunsi the Rector of Rufus Giwa Polytechnic Owo and President of NIPOGA Council during his remark at the end of the NIPOGA in RUGIPO Owo clearly stated that the next host is Delta State Polytechnic Ogwashi-Uku and as well admonished Ogwashi-Uku to do better in 2024, unfortunately reverse is about to be the game and this we sternly frown at.
“Our findings made it clear that the next host, which is Delta State Polytechnic Ogwashi-Uku, has been preparing hugely for the NIPOGA 2024, suddenly tribal, religious and regional politics started playing out.
“We have received numerous complaints from both contingents and concerned Polytechnic stakeholders and so we passionately appeal to all that matters to allow fairness in all ramification, as Nigeria students will not consent to the consideration of Federal Polytechnic Offa, Kwara State (North Central) for whatever reason as the next host.
“If the preparation of Delta State Polytechnic Ogwashi-Uku is not sufficient enough then it’s either more time is given or another zone entirely is considered, it will be so unfair to think of zoning NIPOGA 2024 back to the North Central for the 3rd time in eight (8) years while institutions from other regions are yet to play host”.
The student body said, Nigeria has six (6) geo-political zones and queried, what happened to the institutions in South South, North West, North East, and South East? added that the leadership of polytechnic students in Nigeria would appreciate deeply if their request is considered in the interest of National Unity, Federal Character, Justice and Fairness to all geo-political zones in Nigeria.
The student leadership vowed, “Any attempt to force the game to be hosted by Federal Polytechnic Offa, the entire concerned students will be left with no option than to shutdown the school in heavy protest”. Comrade Munirudeen said.
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