The President of the Gateway Tertiary Institutions Games (GATIG) Council, Mr. Kehinde Olalekan Adeyemi, has called on the management of tertiary institutions in Ogun State to prioritise the provision and upgrade of sporting facilities to enable talented student-athletes to develop their potential.
Adeyemi made the call at the conclusion of the 7th edition of the Gateway Tertiary Institutions Games, which ended over the weekend at the Moshood Abiola International Stadium, Abeokuta, after a week of competition and sporting activities.
The GATIG President, who is also the Director of Sports at Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, said the availability of modern and functional sporting facilities on campuses was essential to discovering, nurturing, and developing the large pool of athletic talent among students in Ogun State.
According to him, sports should not be viewed merely as a recreational activity but as an important pathway through which students can combine academic pursuits with successful sporting careers.
“Students with exceptional sporting abilities should be given the opportunity and enabling environment to develop their talents,” Adeyemi said, stressing that investment in campus sports could create alternative career opportunities for young people while also promoting physical and mental well-being.
Adeyemi commended the athletes, officials, and participating institutions for their conduct throughout the week-long championship, noting that the spirit of sportsmanship displayed during the competition contributed significantly to the success of the event.
He urged tertiary institutions to build on the momentum generated by the games by strengthening their sports programmes and providing facilities that would allow students to train regularly and compete at higher levels.
The call for improved facilities is consistent with Adeyemi’s earlier advocacy for greater investment in campus sports. He has repeatedly argued that inadequate sporting infrastructure in many tertiary institutions limits student participation and reduces opportunities for the discovery of athletes who could eventually represent Ogun State and Nigeria in major competitions.
The Gateway Tertiary Institutions Games has increasingly become an important platform for bringing together student-athletes from universities, polytechnics, and other higher institutions across Ogun State.
At the end of the 7th edition, Tai Solarin Federal University of Education (TASFUED), Ijagun, emerged overall winners, while Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, finished as runners-up on the medal table.
The latest success adds to TASFUED’s strong record in the competition. The university’s Sports Council has previously reported several notable performances in both GATIG and national university competitions, reflecting the growing importance of institutional support for student-athletes.
Adeyemi said the continued growth of GATIG should serve as a reminder to school authorities that sporting development requires sustained investment in infrastructure, coaching, and athlete welfare.
With Ogun State home to a large and diverse tertiary education sector, stakeholders believe improved sports facilities across campuses could significantly expand the pool of athletes available for state and national competitions.
The GATIG President expressed optimism that stronger collaboration among institutions, sports administrators and government authorities would help transform tertiary institutions into more effective centers for talent discovery and sports development.
The championship ended amid celebrations, with athletes and institutions looking ahead to future editions of the competition and the opportunities they could provide for the next generation of Nigerian student-athletes.
Packaged by Olanrewaju Agiri
