ASTEF 2026: Gregory University Targets Overall Best as Torch Arrives

Gregory University Uturu (GUU) has intensified preparations for the second Abia State Tertiary Education Sports Fiesta (ASTEF) 2026, expressing confidence in its readiness to improve on last year’s second-place finish and clinch the overall trophy.

This was contained in a statement issued on Saturday by the Deputy Registrar, Communications, Gregory University Uturu, Sleek Ogbo-Ogwo and made available to insideoutnewsng.

The university, which emerged the best-performing private institution at the maiden edition of the competition, is mobilising athletes across faculties and upgrading its sporting facilities ahead of the fiesta scheduled for October 19 to 27, 2026.

According to the official torch-run schedule released by the Abia State Ministry of Tertiary Education, the ceremonial flame will be lit at Nvosi on Monday, October 19, at noon, following its departure from Umuahia Township Stadium.
On Tuesday, October 20, the torch procession will move through Abia North, stopping at Federal Polytechnic Ngodo, Umunneochi, at 9 a.m.; Spiritan University at 10:30 a.m.; Gregory University Uturu at noon; and Abia State University, Uturu, at 2 p.m.

The procession will subsequently continue through Arochukwu, Isiala Ngwa, Aba and Ikwuano before the programme’s climax on Day Six.

For Gregory University, the arrival of the torch is more than a ceremonial event. It marks the beginning of another campaign to consolidate its impressive performance at the inaugural edition and emerge overall champion.

At the maiden fiesta last year, which featured 16 tertiary institutions competing in 22 sports over four days, GUU defied expectations by finishing second overall with 45 gold medals and 64 medals in total.

The university also won the men’s football gold medal, establishing itself as the best-performing private university in the competition.

Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike (MOUAU), finished first with 51 gold medals, but GUU’s performance demonstrated its growing competitiveness against older institutions, despite having been established in 2012.

The university’s sporting ambitions have also been reinforced by its participation in other inter-university competitions.

At the 2025 Nigeria Private Universities Games Association (NPUGA) competition hosted by Babcock University, which attracted 24 universities, GUU recorded two goals within five minutes in a match, reached the basketball semi-finals and put up notable performances in tennis and volleyball.

Within the university, sustained investment in sports development has been supported by initiatives such as the annual Chancellor’s Cup Super Six, the Games Arena and the Mini Stadium.

These facilities and competitions are designed to identify emerging talents, nurture athletes and strengthen the institution’s sporting culture.

The university’s growing profile has also attracted commendations from prominent figures. Former President Goodluck Jonathan described GUU as “the fastest growing private university in Africa,” while former Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission, Prof. Abubakar Rasheed, described it as “the foremost private university in Eastern Nigeria.”

Reflecting on last year’s competition, the university recalled that when it received the Torch of Excellence on November 18, its management pledged full participation in the fiesta.

GUU subsequently fulfilled that commitment with its second-place finish.
This year, preparations have intensified, with the university’s sporting track re-grassed, hostel facilities undergoing improvements and the Directorate of Sports assembling promising athletes from across its faculties.

With these preparations, GUU is seeking to turn last year’s impressive performance into an overall championship victory at ASTEF 2026.
“Last year we shocked them.

This year we are gearing up to better our last year’s performance and win the Fiesta,” the university declared, reaffirming its determination to claim the ultimate prize.

The institution’s rallying slogan, “Because We are GUU, that means more,” underscores its confidence as it prepares to compete for sporting honours against other tertiary institutions in Abia State.