Dr Musa Oshodi, President of the Nigeria Judo Federation (NJF), addressing a matter during the ongoing 27th NUGA
The President of the Nigeria Judo Federation (NJF), Dr Musa Oshodi, has commended the National University Games Association (NUGA) for eliminating the use of mercenary athletes in university judo tournaments.
Speaking with Campulse News at the ongoing 27th NUGA Games hosted by the University of Jos, Oshodi, who also serves as the Judo Coordinator for the Games, said the new accreditation system adopted by NUGA has brought unprecedented transparency and fairness to the competition.
“The issue of mercenaries has been put to rest. As far as judo is concerned, I can categorically say that 99 percent of the athletes competing here are bona fide students,” Oshodi said. “We now have mechanisms to verify eligibility, and the schools themselves have become more responsible. I give it to NUGA for sustaining this integrity.”
According to the NJF president, the new verification procedures have helped restore confidence among university teams and technical officials, ensuring that all judokas on the tatami meet student-athlete standards. He described this as a major milestone in the development of collegiate judo, adding that it reflects NUGA’s commitment to promoting discipline, fairness, and professionalism in university sports.
Reacting to questions on the sport’s visibility, Oshodi dismissed the notion that judo enjoys low patronage compared to more popular sports like football. He argued that judo has gained more recognition and participation in recent years, thanks to the Federation’s outreach and grassroots programmes.
“Judo is far more popular than when I took over four years ago,” he said. “We have more schools, clubs, and individuals showing interest—either through sponsorship or active participation. It is a sport that promotes physical fitness, mental alertness, and emotional stability.”
Describing the discipline as a “gentle hard sport,” Oshodi emphasised that judo goes beyond competition, offering participants moral discipline and personal development. “Judo is not just about combat; it builds character, focus, and respect. As a medical doctor, I can tell you judo has improved my own professional outlook and mental coordination,” he added.
Oshodi, who has coordinated judo events in NUGA since 2004, praised the conduct of the ongoing tournament, describing it as one of the most peaceful and technically sound in recent years.
“You have seen the atmosphere — it’s crisis-free. The transparency and sincerity of the technical officials have been commendable,” he said. “I make that sure I am present throughout to ensure there is no room for any hanky-panky.”
He also applauded the judokas and officials for maintaining discipline on and off the mat, saying their professionalism continues to reflect positively on Nigerian university sports. “So far, the tournament has been impressive, and I give it to all my technical officials,” he concluded.
Campulse News gathered that 26 universities are fielding judokas in the competition, with Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), the University of Ibadan (UI), and Lagos State University (LASU) currently dominating the medal standings.
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