By Ikome Christie-Noella Eposi in Buea
The University of Buea has hosted a two-day workshop organised by the National Federation of University Sports (FENASU) under the theme “Information Seminar on the new format of the final University Championship (CHAZU) and the National Finals of the University Games (FINAJU).
The sensitisation and information seminar which took place at the ASTI building in the University of Buea recently sought to discuss the new format of the University games and how it will operate henceforth.
The University game is an annual event which brings together state and private universities to exhibit their social and cultural diversities. The Vice Chancellor who was represented by the Director of Student Affairs welcomed the initiative, stating that it will go a long way to make the sport arm of the institution stronger.
It was revealed during the workshop that unlike the previous years, all the university games will now be held after two years, where higher institutions of learning will compete in four zones. The first zone is made up of Adamawa, which consist of the North and Far North regions. Zone B, Bertoua is made up of institutions in the Centre and East regions, Zone C which is in Buea is made up of institutions found in South West and Littoral regions and the last zone is made up of institutions found in the West and North West regions. The winners in the different zones will represent their regions at the finals in Ebolowa in 2026.
Speaking during the event, the Director of Student Assistance at the Ministry of Higher Education, Dr Ntube Wanah Therese, noted that on the instructions of the Minister of State, Minister of Higher Education, the National Federation of University Sports had to work on a new format for the University games and the Minister of State validated the format which will have zonal championships in four zones. “That is why we are moving around carrying out this sensitisation and information seminar involving all higher institutions of learning both public and private, so that they get to know the new format and what it entails to be affiliated to FENASU and be part of the Zonal Championships as well as the National finals”, she averred.
Talking to the press after the workshop, the National Coordinator for FENASU, S,M David Biyo’o said, “On the eve of the 24th edition of University games, the Minister of Higher Education announced publicly that the format for the organisation of games will change. So after that announcement, the federation proposed a new format which will take place in two modules; a qualifier module which is made up of 4 zones that is called (CHAZU); CHAZU is a competition that will be held in the 4 zones cited and at the end of the competition, the best institutions qualified in different disciplines per zone will represent their zones at the finals which will take place at Ebolowa in 2026. Previously the games have been organised in just one event but now we are going to organise in two events; CHAZU and FINAJU.
“At first, universities pay FCFA 5 Million to take part in the games but with the coming of FENASU and with the need of seeing more institutions take part, the participation fee will be between FCFA 2,500,000 to three million francs, depending on the capacity of the institution”, Biyo’o, remarked.
He added that the number of institutions that will represent zones will be determined after their engagement of all institutions. “During last editions of the University games, two new disciplines were introduced; Gymnastics and basketball triple threat and the body doesn’t plan to add another discipline. For this new format, we have to experience the first 12 disciplines maybe after two editions of the zonal qualifiers and the finals we would add some others”.
With the stage now set, the body intends to continue the sensitisation for a more inclusive and competitive event bringing the finest of Cameroon’s higher institutions together come 2026.