By Abel Johngold

It was a memorable occasion at the Sports University of Nigeria (SUN), Idumuje-Ugboko, Delta State, as the institution held its first-ever matriculation ceremony on Thursday, 6th March, 2025, officially welcoming 98 pioneer students into its academic community.

The combined matriculation ceremony for the 2023/2024 and 2024/2025 sets marked a historic milestone in the university’s vision of redefining sports education in Nigeria and across Africa.

Speaking on the development via his X (Twitter) handle, the Chancellor and Founder of the university, Senator Prince Ned Nwoko, described the ceremony as a significant step in the mission to transform sports education in Nigeria and beyond.

“As Founder and Chancellor, I am proud to see this vision come to life — an institution where young talents seamlessly balance academics with professional sports training, developing holistically as both scholars and athletes,” he said.

Senator Nwoko further emphasized that the university was established to nurture future champions and intellectuals who would not only excel in sports but also make remarkable contributions to society on the global stage.

The newly admitted students were charged to embrace the institution’s core values of discipline, dedication, and excellence, while taking full advantage of the unique opportunity to combine quality education with professional sports development.

With this historic matriculation, the Sports University of Nigeria (SUN) has set the pace as Nigeria’s first sports-focused tertiary institution, aimed at grooming a new generation of athletes and scholars.