In what has been described as a historic feat, eleven student-athletes from Lagos State University (LASU) have secured spots on Team Nigeria for the upcoming World University Games scheduled to take place in Germany later this year.
The student-athletes earned their places after impressive showings at the FISU (Fédération Internationale du Sport Universitaire) qualifying trials held at the University of Jos, Plateau State, from Monday, April 7 to Friday, April 11, 2025.
LASU stood tall among the 46 participating institutions, producing the highest number of qualifiers—11 out of 29 available slots—demonstrating the university’s growing reputation as a powerhouse in Nigerian university sports.
A breakdown of the qualifiers shows that LASU’s table tennis team had an impressive showing, with three female athletes and one male athlete making the cut. The university’s athletics team also excelled, with two female athletes qualifying, while judo, taekwondo, badminton, and tennis contributed two, one, and one male athletes, respectively.
The Chairman of the LASU Sports Council and leader of the delegation, Professor Simeon Dosunmu, expressed immense satisfaction with the team’s performance, commending the athletes for their discipline, resilience, and exemplary sportsmanship. “These days, no sporting competition is complete without LASU, as sports organizers are always looking for LASU’s participation,” he said.
Professor Dosunmu attributed the team’s success to the support and investment in sports by the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello, and the university’s management. “I thank the Vice-Chancellor and Management for their support and investment in sports,” he stated.
The Director of Sports and Recreation, Dr. Segun Olawunmi, also praised the athletes for their efforts and expressed gratitude to the Vice-Chancellor and management for their unwavering support. He noted that LASU’s achievement was remarkable, especially given that some universities failed to qualify even a single athlete.
Dr. Olawunmi is confident that the LASU athletes will excel in Germany, bringing pride to the university and Nigeria as a whole. “We are proud of our athletes, and we believe they will make a mark in Germany,” he said.
The team’s success is a testament to the university’s commitment to excellence in both academics and sports. With 46 universities participating in the trials, LASU emerged as the top contender, further solidifying its reputation as a force to reckon with in Nigerian university sports.
The Deputy Director, Sports and Recreation, Mr. Idowu Owoyemi, and the coaches also played a crucial role in the team’s success, providing expert guidance and support to the athletes.
Our focus shall be shifted to Germany for the World University Games later this year.
