By Hawa'u Malami
Sa’adatu Ladan Sani, a student of Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto (UDUS), never imagined that skating would become an important part of her life when she first stepped onto a pair of skates.
What began as curiosity for her soon grew into a passion. Today, she is among a growing number of students helping to build a skating culture in UDUS despite limited facilities, lack of official recognition, and the absence of a permanent training ground.
For many members of the students who find comfort in the sport, skating offers more than recreation. It provides a sense of belonging, discipline, and personal development in an environment where opportunities for alternative sports remain limited.
“I love it because that’s the only activity I feel comfortable with. One thing about it is that they really make safety a priority. There is discipline, and they respect gender differences during training,” Sa’adatu told our reporter.
However, while Sa’adatu and other students continue to develop their skills, the university still struggles to provide the infrastructure needed to support the sport's growth.
A Growing Sport Still Seeking Recognition
UDUS is not alone. Across different states in Nigeria, skating players have repeatedly called for greater support from governments and educational institutions. Recently, skaters in Jigawa State appealed for investment in the sport, arguing that skating promotes discipline, youth engagement, and talent development.
Despite its growing popularity among young people, skating remains one of the least recognised sports in Nigeria. Unlike football, basketball, and athletics, the sport receives limited funding, media attention, and institutional support, while inadequate facilities continue to hinder its development.
This inequality is also reflected in national youth sports structures. Events such as the National Youth Games attract thousands of athletes across multiple sporting categories, yet skating remains largely absent from mainstream development programmes.
Although Nigeria has produced athletes who compete in international skating competitions, opportunities for growth remain limited. The country's participation in the 2026 World Skate Championship in Benin Republic demonstrated the presence of local talent despite the sport's relatively low profile.
For Aminu Sani Maishanu, a 400-level Political Science student, the absence of a permanent training ground where he can comfortably practice his skill remains one of the biggest challenges he's facing.
“We really need a permanent training ground. The place we train is not comfortable for us because we need a place that is long and wide,” he said.
He also noted that the school lacks skating facilities such as ramps and other equipment that could improve training and attract more students to the sport.
Safety on Edge
With no designated training facility, UDUS skaters are forced to practise on roads and in open public spaces, a situation that raises serious safety concerns.
Janet Depeme John, a 200-level Accounting student, acknowledged the risks involved and urged members to remain cautious during training sessions.
“If you check our form, you will see there’s no 100 percent safety assurance. If you are skating on the main road or highway, anything can happen,” she said.
She noted that members who participate in road skating do so with an understanding of the possible dangers involved.
Globally, sports science research shows that skating is widely practised across different age groups, from young children to adults, making structured and safe environments essential for injury prevention and skill development.
At UDUS, however, such facilities remain unavailable.
Leaders Call for Support
Abdulhameed Usman, one of the leaders of the skating community, explained that the movement began with a small group of students who simply enjoyed skating after lectures.
“At first, it was just something simple. A few of us would skate after lectures because we enjoyed it. But as more people joined, we realised we needed structure if we wanted the school to take us seriously,” he said.
According to him, the community initially struggled with organisation because some participants were not students of the university, making coordination difficult.
However, he identified internal disagreements as one of the major challenges the group faced during its early development.
“Our biggest obstacle wasn’t even the school, it was ourselves. There were disagreements about leadership and direction. Everybody had ideas, but not everybody agreed on how things should be done,” Abdulhameed said.
He added that members later shifted their focus towards unity, registration, and building a proper organisational structure.
“Now we are trying to bring everybody together under one umbrella. We are registering members properly and creating rules because we know recognition can only happen when we are organised,” he explained.
Abdulhameed revealed that UDUS students have participated in skating competitions within Sokoto, representing the university informally despite the lack of official recognition.
The community has also opened discussions with the school Sports Directorate in hopes of obtaining formal recognition.
SU-CTC Weighs In
In an interview with DIGEST PRESS, the Students’ Union Caretaker Committee (SU-CTC) Sports Director, Muhammad Abubakar (Bukar), confirmed that discussions are ongoing regarding the establishment of an official skating association.
“We have been communicating with the former deputy dean, the coach, and some leaders within the skating community. The necessary forms and membership lists have already been submitted,” he said.
He explained that because the community is still developing, the recognition process requires proper procedures.
“Because the community is still young, the process has to be gradual. The priority now is getting official association status first. Once that happens, the university can begin addressing their needs properly,” he added.