The landscape of university sports in Africa took a significant step forward with the successful hosting of the 2nd FASU Vice Chancellors Forum and the 5th FISU-FASU-NUSF Seminar.

This two-day event, held from September 21st to 22nd, 2024, at the University of Lagos, Nigeria, brought together key university sports stakeholders to explore strategies for empowering and advancing university sports on the continent.

The event, themed “Empowering University Sports: Pathways to Excellence,” was held leading into the 11th Africa University Games, Lagos 2024.

The event started with a welcome message from the FISU President, Mr Leonz Eder, who joined virtually while the co-hosting vice-chancellors, Prof. Folasade Ogunsola (Vice Chancellor, University of Lagos) and Prof. Olatunji Bello (Vice Chancellor, Lagos State University), along with Dr. Decius Chipande (Head, African Union Sports Council), were in attendance.

The gathering attracted vice-chancellors, sports directors, and student leaders from universities across Africa, highlighting the critical role of leadership in the growth of university sports.

In his welcome address, FISU President Leonz Eder urged African universities to continue striving for excellence in university sports and to support one another in achieving remarkable progress. He emphasized FISU’s commitment to collaborating with FASU to further promote university sports across the continent.

A major highlight of day one was the keynote address, “The University Sports in Africa: The African Union’s Vision,” which set the tone for the discussions that followed. The keynote emphasized the role of university sports as a catalyst for national development and its alignment with the African Union’s goals of promoting unity, education, and health across the continent.

This was followed by a session for vice chancellors on “Unlocking Potential: Strategies for Elevating University Sports Programs and the Value of Hosting Mega Sports Events for Institutional Development.”

This session provided an opportunity for university leaders to share their experiences and explore practical ways to improve sports programs, drawing on successful examples from both African and global institutions.

They also shared solutions on how to better organize Mega Sports events and their benefits to both the institution and students.

This was followed by a presentation by a representative from the Delegations Service of the upcoming Rhein-Ruhr 2025 FISU World University Games, which provided valuable insights for African universities that plan to participate.

Day two was dedicated to the ‘FISU-FASU-NUSF Seminar.’  The seminar began with a presentation on ‘What’s Up FISU’ highlighting FISU’s programs and projects and the role of FISU in supporting university sports globally and the unique opportunities available to African universities.

One of the key topics of the day was ‘Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion’. In a dedicated session titled ‘Safeguarding in University Sports: Promoting a Culture of Safety, Integrity, and Inclusion’, Prof. Ayoka Mopelola Olusakin addressed the importance of creating safe environments for all students and athletes, regardless of gender, background, or ability. This discussion emphasized the need for robust safeguarding policies to prevent abuse, discrimination, and harassment in sports.

The 2nd FASU Vice Chancellors Forum and the 5th FISU-FASU-NUSF Seminar and 2nd Vice Chancellors Forum successfully provided a platform for African university sports leaders to reflect on their current programs and identify key areas for growth. By focusing on collaboration, inclusion, and institutional development, the event has set the stage for stronger, more dynamic university sports programs across the continent.