Former Plateau speaker donates sports kits to varsity
By Emmanuel Yatai
July 20, 2026
Hon. Gabriel Dewan, former Speaker of the Plateau State House of Assembly and current Minority Leader, has donated sports kits to the Federal University of Education, Pankshin (FUEP) to boost sporting activities and nurture students’ talents.
Prof. Noel Wannang, Vice-Chancellor of the university, on Monday in Pankshin, described the donation as a significant investment in the future of the institution and its students.
Wannang said sports development was one of the 27 strategic priorities the university hoped to achieve over the next five years.
He said it was his dream to institutionalise sporting activities in the university, discover hidden talents among students and expose them to global opportunities.
“I must commend the former Speaker. Each time you invest in students, you invest in the future.
“Most universities outside Nigeria are not developed with government funds alone; they are built through the support of individuals,” he said.
The vice-chancellor noted that champions were built through patience, preparation, hard work, teamwork and the willingness of others to invest in excellence.
“The true measure of greatness is not what we acquire but what we leave behind for others.
“A university is not built by bricks and mortar alone; it is built by the generosity, goodwill and shared vision of people who believe in its future,” he added.
Wannang commended Dewan for supporting the institution in spite of being an alumnus, describing the gesture as a demonstration of commitment to educational and youth development.
He urged members of the university community to reciprocate the gesture by actively participating in sporting activities and pledged to continue engaging public-spirited individuals and organisations to support the institution’s growth.
Earlier, the Dean of Student Affairs, Prof. Danjuma Gokum, thanked Dewan for the donation, describing him as a consistent supporter of the university.
He assured the donor that the facilities would be put to good use in developing sports and enhancing the university’s profile.
Also speaking, Chairman of the university’s Sports Committee, Prof. Joseph Kakdima, appreciated the vice-chancellor’s efforts in attracting support from individuals and groups for the institution’s development.
He pledged that the committee would ensure the facilities were properly utilised.
The President of the Students’ Union Government (SUG), Mr Luhkur Lohjun, commended the university management and the donor, saying the donation would help revive sports in the institution and place it on the global sporting map.
In a vote of thanks, the Registrar, Mr Longtong Yadok, lauded the vice-chancellor for mobilising support for the university and thanked Dewan for responding positively.
He urged the staff to emulate the vice-chancellor by reaching out to well-meaning individuals, noting that government alone could not fund all the university’s developmental needs.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the donated items include footballs, basketballs and volleyballs with sets of jerseys, tracksuits, tennis balls and other sporting equipment. (NAN)
