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The Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of the National Institute for Sports (NIS), Comrade Philip Shaibu, has congratulated Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, on its emergence as the overall winner of the 15th edition of the West African University Games (WAUG).
Shaibu, in a congratulatory message issued on Wednesday, commended the university for its outstanding performance and dominance throughout the competition, describing its victory as a testament to hard work, discipline, and sustained investment in sports development.
According to the final medals table, OAU outperformed 22 other participating universities to secure the top position, winning a total of 122 medals comprising 33 gold, 50 silver, and 39 bronze.
The University of Ghana finished in second place with 59 medals, including 26 gold, 21 silver, and 12 bronze, putting up a strong challenge in the competition.
The NIS Director-General also acknowledged the efforts of other participating institutions, commending their commitment and competitive spirit throughout the games.
He noted that the impressive performances of Nigerian universities at the competition reflected the growing potential of the country’s sports sector and offered renewed hope for the future of Nigerian sports.
Shaibu reaffirmed the NIS’s commitment to supporting university sports, describing tertiary institutions as vital platforms for identifying, nurturing, and developing young sporting talents for national and international competitions.
He stressed that sustained investment in grassroots and university sports would help strengthen Nigeria’s sports development framework and create opportunities for emerging athletes to excel.
Meanwhile, the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), finished at the bottom of the medals table at the competition, which brought together universities from across West Africa.
