Industrial and General Insurance Plc, ‘Official Insurer of NUGA UNN2008’ and Nigeria’s foremost sports-friendly insurance institution, has once more demonstrated its strong belief in youth development with N25 million support of the on-going 22^nd Nigeria University Games (NUGA) holding at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka.

The support consists of N1 million cash donation and N24 million insurance cover for athletes and officials taking part in the Games, tagged ‘UNN2008’.

Deputy Managing Director (Operations) of IGI, Mr. Rotimi Fashola, said: “IGI has a rich history of support of sports at both local and international levels so as to provide opportunity for youths to creatively channel their energy,” stressing, “As the Official Insurer of NUGA Games UNN2008, we believe that we should make our modest contribution to raising the standard of the sporting competition that has produced great sports personalities for Nigeria over the years.”

He explained that IGI’s robust profile in social responsibility emerged from its enviable reputation as the foremost sports-friendly insurance institution and one of Nigeria’s leading sports sponsors and promoters.

Fashola said that IGI associates with the theme of the Games, “Building the Total Man,” because the company also believes in the need to have a sound mind in a sound body.

“We believe that our involvement in the Games will help to rekindle the true spirit of sportsmanship and foster national unity through interactions among students of the country’s tertiary institutions,” he said, adding, “We believe the Games will also contribute to the overall development of young people and provide alternative career choices for them.”

The first edition of the Nigerian University Games, which are organized by the Nigerian University Games Association (NUGA) took place at the University of Ibadan in 1966 to serve as a breeding/discovery ground for future Nigerian sports stars.

About 62 Federal, State and Private universities are participating in the current NUGA Games, which feature about 15 sports events including athletics, badminton, handball, basketball, football, hockey, squash, volleyball and swimming, among others. The Games will end on March 9, 2009