In a landmark event for Nigerian collegiate sports, Unique Open University (UOU) in Ojo, Lagos, has been crowned the overall champion of the inaugural Nigeria University Flag Football Tournament.
A Historic Victory for UOU
The thrilling exhibition competition was organized by the Nigeria Collegiate Flag Football League (NCFFL), an initiative of the Nigerian American Football Association (NAFA). The tournament was hosted at the Unique Open University Ikeja Campus in Agidingbi on 10 January 2026.
This pioneering event successfully brought together over 60 student-athletes from various tertiary institutions across Nigeria. Notable participants included teams from the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH), and the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH).
High-Energy Competition and Grand Reward
The athletes engaged in eight high-energy exhibition games, captivating an audience of more than 500 spectators. This turnout marked a significant step forward for the development of flag football at the university level in the country.
In recognition of their stellar performance, the President and Founder of Unique Open University, Prof. Chris Imumolen, awarded the victorious team a substantial cash prize of ₦1 million.
Prof. Imumolen praised the team for elevating the institution's reputation on a national platform. He emphasized that the reward was more than just a celebration of winning; it was an acknowledgment of the dedication, resilience, and commitment demonstrated by the players and their coaching staff throughout the competition.
Investing in Youth and Holistic Education
He described the gesture as an investment in youth excellence and a clear demonstration of how sports can drive innovation, leadership, and character development among students. According to him, competitive sports are crucial in shaping well-rounded graduates, instilling values like discipline, teamwork, and perseverance that benefit academic and future professional pursuits.
Prof. Imumolen highlighted that despite facing strong and well-prepared opponents from across Nigeria, the UOU team displayed exceptional teamwork, discipline, and tactical execution. Their ability to stay focused and adaptable under pressure was evident in their unbeaten run, which culminated in a well-deserved championship title.
With this win, Unique Open University has etched its name in history as the first Nigerian university to win a national collegiate flag football tournament. The achievement underscores the institution's commitment to holistic education and sets a new benchmark for other universities to invest deliberately in sports development as a tool for youth empowerment and national pride.
Grassroots Development and Future Impact
The event also showcased the broader developmental impact of the NCFFL initiative. Notably, 65% of the participating athletes were playing flag football for the very first time, while approximately 25% had progressed from the Nigeria Secondary School Flag Football League (NSSFFL). This highlights the effectiveness of NAFA's grassroots-to-tertiary development pathway.
UOU's triumph demonstrates the institution's capacity to rapidly adapt, compete, and excel within this emerging sports ecosystem in Nigeria.
