By Sleek Ogbo-Ogwo
As the torch for the 2nd Abia State Tertiary Education Sports Fiesta (ASTEF) begins its run from 19th-27th October 2026, Gregory University Uturu is physically and spiritually ready to receive it – and to win it.
According to the official Torch Run Schedule released by the Ministry of Tertiary Education, the flame will be lit at Nvosi on Day 1, Monday 19th October at 12 noon, after take-off from Umuahia Township Stadium. On Day 2, Tuesday 20th October, the torch train hits Abia North – with stops at Federal Polytechnic Ngodo Umunneochi (9:00am), Spiritan University (10:30am), Gregory University Uturu by 12 noon, before berthing at Abia State University Uturu by 2pm. The run continues through Arochukwu, Isiala Ngwa, Aba and Ikwuano, before climaxing on Day 6.
For GUU, that 12 noon date is not ceremonial. It is a call to surpass history.
At the maiden edition last year – a 4-day fiesta of 16 institutions in 22 sports – GUU stunned older institutions to emerge 2nd overall with 45 gold medals including the men’s football gold, and 64 medals in total, as the best private university. MOUAU won with 51 gold, but GUU proved that a university founded in 2012 can lead.
That culture is evident everywhere. At NPUGA 2025 at Babcock University with 24 universities, GUU scored two goals in five minutes, reached basketball semi-finals, and shone in tennis and volleyball. On campus, the annual Chancellor’s Cup Super Six, the Games Arena and Mini Stadium sustain our policy of talent discovery.
It is why former President Goodluck Jonathan called GUU “the fastest growing private university in Africa” and former NUC Scribe Prof. Abubakar Rasheed called it “the foremost private university in Eastern Nigeria.”
Last year when we received the Torch of Excellence on November 18, our management promised full participation. We delivered second place.
This year, the track is re-grassed, hostels are tuned, and our Directorate of Sports is assembling champions across faculties.
Last year we shocked them. This year we are gearing up to better our last year’s performance and win the Fiesta.
Because We are GUU, that means more.
Sleek Ogbo-Ogwo, NIPR, is Deputy Registrar, Communications, Gregory University Uturu
