Date: 2020-02-08

The Kwara state Governor mallam Abdulrasaq Abdulraman declared open today, Nigeria Polytechnic Games NIPOGA.

The Governor, represented by his Deputy Mr Kayode Alabi, charged the athletes and officials participating in this year's Nigeria Polytechnic Games, NIPOGA, holding at the state's Polytechnic Ilorin to demonstrate high level of sportsmanship.

Mallam Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq at the opening ceremony explained that NIPOGA has proved to be a unifying factor and a tool for fostering national integration among polytechnics, monotechnics and colleges of technology through the federation.

He also noted that from time immemorial, sports has helped in developing friendly relationship among nations, build courage, mental alertness, perseverance, discipline, fair play among others hence, the need for his administration's commitment to sports development to maximally and meaningfully engage the youths.

Mallam Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq therefore, expressed hope and prayed that this year's edition of NIPOGA would provide robust opportunity for major stakeholders in the games to nurture the spirit of healthy rivalry, greater unity and social interaction that will move the sports sector to an enviable height.

Speaking earlier, the President, NIPOGA Council and Rector, Kwara State Polythenic, Ilorin, Engineer Dr Abdul Jimoh Muhammed said the biennial sporting competition is being hosted by Kwarapoly for the second time after its first hosting in 1981.

Dr Muhammed who appreciated the kwara state government for supporting the institution advised students and participants to exhibit the true spirit of sportsmanship and charged the host community to receive all their visiting teams with open arms.

The 2020 NIPOGA opening ceremony featured unveiling of the Games mascot and hoisting of NIPOGA Flag by the Kwara State Governor, Mallam Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq

Dignitaries at the event were the Emir of Ilorin, the Speaker, Kwara State House of Assembly, S.S.G, Chief of Staff, Kwara Commissioner of Police, General Kollington Ayinla, Commissioners of Sports and Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs among others.