Date: 2015-01-27

The University of Ilorin will soon introduce a sports festival for its staff and students as part of steps towards re-engineering the Sports Unit of the University.

The institution's new Director of Sports, Prof. Adetayo Talabi, who disclosed this in a chat with Unilorin Bulletin, said that he is committed to creating a robust environment that will make students and staff of the university to pick more interest in sport.

Prof. Talabi said, "I just need to run what I call a sport festival for both staff and students. The Registrar's Championship for staff will come in the First Semester when students are just settling down; the students will have their own Vice–Chancellor's Championship in the second semester when they are already familiar with the University environment''.

The Director noted that "creating an avenue where students feel a sense of belonging will make them better by far in sport and not just in academics''.

The Professor of Human Kinetics and Health Education also expressed his desire to upgrade the Vice-Chancellor's cup and Registrar's Cup to Vice-Chancellor's Championship and Registrar's Championship respectively where athletes will be able to compete in other sporting events aside football.

While appealing for more funds for the Sports Unit, Prof. Talabi said, "You have to build sport to a stage where sport can begin to take care of itself and so they must pick more interest in sport''.

The Director, who is coming to the office for the third time, regretted that there are no representatives of various Faculties of the University in the Sport Council.