Jalla Wants Fed Govt to facilitate take- off of Nkalagu Sports University

Chairman of Advocacy for Nigeria Football Reform Concepts, Prince Harrison Jalla has expressed surprise that four years after the Federal University of Sports at Nkalagu (Establishment Act, 2023), was signed, no practical steps have been taken by the Tinubu administration to kick-start the Federal Government’s premier sports University.

In an open letter to Mr. President m, he noted that despite the support and assurance of the Ebonyi State Government under His Excellency, Francis Nwifuru, the Executive Governor of Ebonyi State, by promptly making the needed parcel of land available, the project remains in limbo.

According to him, no management team or principal officers have been appointed to facilitate the take-off of the university, noting that there’s need for the Federal Government to do the needful by ensuring the take- off of the university.

It would be recalled that the late former President, Muhammadu Buhari, signed into law the Federal University of Sports, Nkalagu Establishment Act, 2023 on the 26th of May, 2023.

Although the Federal Government, through the office of the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, in a letter conveying approval with reference SH/COS/02/1/A/1405, dated July 23, 2024, addressed to the Honourable Minister of Education, the Honourable Minister of Sports, and the Executive Governor of Ebonyi State, stated in part:

“This is to inform you that the President has approved the commencement of the Federal University of Sports at Nkalagu, Ebonyi State, in line with the extant provisions of the Federal University of Sports, Nkalagu Establishment Act, 2023, and the appointment of a Governing Council to facilitate the take-off of the university.”

Jalla explained that the letter is to remind President Bola Tinubu to do the needful in the interest of the teeming Nigerian youths waiting to make their careers out of sports, by ensuring the take- off of the University.