By IndyPress News Desk

The University of Ibadan Sports Academy has commenced the construction of a 500-bed hostel and a 34-room accommodation facility to strengthen its capacity to accommodate athletes, students, coaches, visiting teams and other members other stakeholders of the sports academy 

The project, being developed by MacPrime Properties and Investment Company, will comprise two three-storey buildings located along Water Works Road, near the polytechnic road,University of Ibadan.

Marking the commencement ceremony, the university Vice-Chancellor, Prof. K. O. Adebowale, alongside members of the university management, sports stakeholders and representatives of the project promoters were present at the construction site on Tuesday, August 25, 2026.

Speaking at the ceremony, the Chairman of the University of Ibadan Sports Academy, Prof. Olufemi Adegbesan, described the project as a major milestone in the Academy’s efforts to expand its sports infrastructure and create an environment for nurturing young talents.

“Today is a significant day in the history of the University of Ibadan Sports Academy. We are not simply gathering to witness the commencement of a construction project; we are here to celebrate a vision that is gradually becoming reality,” he said.

Adegbesan said the 500-bed hostel would provide modern, secure and conducive accommodation for athletes, students and other members of the Academy community, while the 34-room facility would cater to distinguished guests, visiting teams, coaches, officials, partners and other stakeholders.

He added that the facilities would complement the Academy’s existing sporting infrastructure and strengthen its capacity to operate as a centre for sports development.

According to him, the project also demonstrates the potential of partnerships between institutions and the private sector in addressing infrastructure needs within the sports sector.

“Your involvement represents not only an investment in physical infrastructure but also an investment in the future of sports, education and our young people,” Adegbesan told the project’s promoters.

He said the Academy’s long-term ambition was to develop into an institution capable of competing with leading sports establishments in Africa and eventually on the global stage.

Adegbesan added that the Academy sought to create an environment where young Nigerians could combine quality sporting training with education, discipline and character development.

He further said the development could generate wider economic benefits through employment opportunities, the hosting of sporting competitions and events, tourism and increased patronage of businesses within the surrounding community.

In a technical presentation, a representative of the project explained that the development would consist of two three-storey buildings supported by reinforced concrete frames and pad foundations.

He said geotechnical investigations conducted at the site established an average allowable bearing capacity of about 340kN/m², adding that the findings indicated that the site was suitable for the proposed development.

The technical team also stressed the importance of strict quality control throughout construction, including proper reinforcement placement, concrete quality, foundation dimensions, curing, formwork stability and structural alignment.

The representative added that any modification to the structural components would require prior approval from the structural engineer to safeguard the integrity of the buildings.

The project is expected to provide a lasting infrastructure base for the Academy’s programmes while improving its capacity to accommodate athletes and visiting teams and host sporting events and related programmes.

Also present at the ceremony were the university’s Deputy Vice-Chancellors, Registrar, Public Relations Officer, Director of Sports, Dr Olawale Adisa, representatives of the National Sports Commission, members of the university community, sports organisations, private-sector partners and other stakeholders.

Credit: Debinoculars News

Image Credit: University of Ibadan Sports Academy