ORIGIN

When sometime in 1964, Sir Samuel Manuwa presented two giant trophies for competitive sports among
some West Africa Universities, hardly could any one have guessed that the gesture was destined to be the initiator of larger sporting events in the entire continent. The original intention, I believe, was to emulate  the tradition of "Oxbridge" athletic heritage in Britain - hence the 1st West Africa Inter-University Games (WAUG) that took place at the University of Ibadan from March 22nd to 29th, 1965.

As to be expected, participating Universities were English speaking and mainly drawn from Nigeria,
Ghana, Sierra-Leone and Liberia. The success, however, encouraged the Nigeria Sports Council at the time to propose the idea of Nigeria University Games - to be competed for on a biennial basis - rotating amongst the competing tertiary institutions for hosting rights. Such was the humble origin of NUGA games as a sporting concept in the country. After an initial period of lukewarm reception from other tertiary institutions, the prospect of an exclusive Nigerian University Games meet finally gained credence and acceptance at a conference of University officials and students in charge of sports, held
once again at the University of Ibadan from July 8-10,1965. The initial participating Universities at the 
first NUGA which took place between March 22nd and 29th, 1966 were the following:
(i) Ahmadu Bello University
(ii) University of Ibadan
(iii) University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University)
(iv) University of Lagos
(v) University of Nigeria, Nsukka


MODALITIES:
Events originally competed for in 1966 were Athletics, Badminton, Cricket, Hockey, Lawn Tennis, Netball,  Table Tennis and Volleyball. Basketball (men and Women) was added in 1968 at tht 2nd NUGA Games at University of Lagos while swimming was included in 1972 at A.B.U.

Owing to the Nigerian political crisis between 1967-1970 Nsukka could not attend the Games from 1968-
1970. However, it is significant to note that there was an addition of the University of Benin at the 1972 edition of the Games held at Ahmadu Bello University. Progressively, many other recently established Nigeria Universities including all state universities, have since become full-fledged members of the NUGA council.

Today, there are 36 Nigeria Universities as statutory members of the NUGA General Assembly. Also, the number of participatory games at the NUGA meets has currently increased to 15 with distinctive possibility of a further growth in the foreseeable future.

FISU AND FASU:

NUGA became a member of World Federation of University Games, (Fisu) in 1970. T. Ogunjobi of the University of Ife made history by becoming the first Nigeria undergraduate to win a FISUmedal (bronze 400m jurdles at the FISU meet, in Rome 1975. In its on turn, All-Africa University Games Association (FASU) was formed in 1974 with NUGA as founding member amongst many other Africa Universities grouped together along national identities across the entire continent.

The first FASU Games took place in Accra, Ghana, between December/January 1974/75 while the 2nd FASU Games were held in December 1978 at Nairobi, Kenya. Many other international competitions for tertiary institutions all over the World have since become a staple or a normal trying ground for most of our budding sportsmen and women before venturing next into the international sporting arena.