OMON derives its identity from the endangered Cross River Gorilla, a species native to the state’s rainforest ecosystem
By Frank Ulom
·
Published on July 3, 2026
·
2 min read
Cross River State is set to receive another major boost in sports tourism following the unveiling of “OMON” the Gorilla as the official mascot of the 2026 NUGA Games.
The mascot was jointly unveiled on Wednesday by the University of Calabar, UNICAL, and the Nigerian University Games Association, NUGA, ahead of the national sporting festival.
OMON derives its identity from the endangered Cross River Gorilla, a species native to the state’s rainforest ecosystem.
Organisers said the mascot embodies resilience, unity and excellence.
They added that it would also serve as a tool for promoting environmental education and conservation awareness.
The mascot is expected to feature in publicity drives, community outreach initiatives and volunteer mobilisation campaigns.
The 28th NUGA Games which will be hosted by the University of Calabar will take place from November 14 to 24, 2026.The event is projected to attract about 95 universities and more than 10,000 participants.
Sports expected to be competed in the competition includes, Squash, Rugby and Hockey making their debut alongside traditional crowd-pullers such as Athletics, Football, Basketball, Volleyball, Table Tennis, Badminton, Swimming and Boxing.
The games will additionally feature Chess, Scrabble, Cricket, Taekwondo, Handball, Esports, Beach Volleyball, Kickboxing, Wrestling, Beach Soccer, Judo, Baseball, Karate, Five-a-Side Hockey, Strongman, Rowing, Canoeing and Sailing, ensuring broad participation across multiple sporting categories.
NUGA President, Prof. Bawa Mohammed, described the Games as a platform for discovering talents and strengthening national unity through sports.
Mohammed said, “The Games provide an opportunity to showcase sporting talents, foster national unity and advance the development of university sports in Nigeria.”
Vice-Chancellor of the University of Calabar, Prof. Offiong Effanga Offiong, assured athletes and officials of adequate security throughout the competition.
Offiong stated, “The university will work closely with security agencies to guarantee the safety of athletes, officials and visitors during the Games while ensuring a successful sporting festival.”
