The University of Uyo (UNIUYO) is set to introduce a comprehensive sports policy aimed at making sporting activities more sustainable and financially beneficial to the institution, Vice-Chancellor Prof. Christopher Ekong has said.
Ekong disclosed this on Thursday during a press briefing in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, while discussing the university’s plans for sports development.
The Vice-Chancellor said the university’s approach would go beyond providing occasional support for athletes. Instead, he wants sports to become an institutional policy capable of generating resources while allowing students to pursue both academic and sporting careers.
“I want to make money from sports. I want to make sports as a policy in the university,” Ekong said.
He explained that sponsoring a small number of athletes to opportunities abroad without a broader framework would not provide a sustainable solution. According to him, the proposed policy will create a system where student-athletes can develop their sporting abilities without abandoning their education.
Ekong also expressed concern about attitudes that could discourage students from taking sports seriously. He said some lecturers may view sporting activities as a distraction from academics, stressing that student-athletes should instead be supported to balance both areas.
Under the proposed policy, the university intends to provide facilities and establish structures that recognise education and sports as complementary. Ekong said athletes should also be encouraged to see university sports as a pathway to higher levels of competition, including representing Nigeria internationally.
The Vice-Chancellor acknowledged that the university currently lacks all the funds required to develop the necessary sporting infrastructure. He said UNIUYO would therefore explore partnerships with development agencies and other organisations to improve its facilities.
Ekong disclosed that the South-South Development Commission had recently visited the university and provided a template for possible intervention. He said discussions would continue with relevant development bodies, including the Niger Delta Development Commission, to attract support for sports infrastructure.
The Vice-Chancellor said the policy document is still being developed and would be unveiled after the necessary consultations and preparations are completed. He expressed confidence that the final framework would provide a sustainable structure for sports development at UNIUYO.
Prof. Christopher Nyong Ekong became the University of Uyo’s ninth Vice-Chancellor in June 2026, following his appointment by the university’s Governing Council.