The highly anticipated WAUG games, themed ‘Promoting Unity and Excellence in West Africa through Sports’ officially commenced on Sunday with two participating countries, Nigeria and Ghana, set to battle against themselves in four different sporting events.
The games, originally slated to commence on the 15th, eventually began in the late afternoon on Sunday, with an opening ceremony that had spectators spread across the covered and uncovered part of the main bowl. The delay might not be unconnected to the absence of the President, the Ministers of Education, and Sports, and other ministers and members of the Executive, who according to the programme were expected to be present.
However, the ceremony had in attendance the WAUG President, Mr. Ibrahim Tanko from Ghana, the secretary, Mr Papa Digne from Senegal, the Adviser, and Mr. Bola Orodele from Nigeria. Also present were the Vice Chancellor of OAU, Prof. Adebayo Bamire, and other principal officers of the institution who donned a white and blue-lined tracksuit to the event.
Despite being a West African Games, there was a glaring absence of other countries in the West African regions, with only universities from Nigeria and Ghana participating in the opening ceremony, reigniting the age-long rivalry between the two countries. Although the universities numbered up to 22, five were from Ghana and the remainder from Nigeria, with the last edition winners, the University of Port-Harcourt and second-runner up, University of Cape Coast, Ghana, respectively also visible absent.
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The schools present for the ceremony include the University of Ghana, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, University of Education, Winneba-Ghana, University for Development Studies, Ghana, Akenten Appiah Menka University Of Skills Training and Entrepreneur Development, Ghana, University of Ilorin, Lagos State University of Education, Lagos State University, Ambrose Alli University, Ibrahim Babangida university, Afe Babalola University, Delta State University, Osun State University, University of Ibadan, Federal University of Oye Ekiti, University of Lagos, Kwara State University, Bayero University, Benson Idahosa University, Ekiti State University, the University of Abuja and the host, Obafemi Awolowo University.
All participating schools took turns in a march past on the track of the complex, saluting the vice-chancellor whilst receiving cheers and applause from the spectators.
Today, Monday 18th of Decemeber, when the games begin in full swing, the athletes from the participating events will be testing their strengths and wits in only four sporting events including athletics, basketball, table tennis, and tennis. This is a big departure from the last edition where the athletes competed in football, swimming, chess, judo, taekwondo, scrabble, hockey, badminton, and others.
The torch for games was carried by Enoch Adegoke, an Olympic finalist and OAU Alumnus, and presented to the vice-chancellor who lit it adding spice to the event. Also present to entertain the spectators were Gbenga Falope, an OAU Alumnus, and his band, the IFE Music Department, and the Cultural troupe of the Department of Dramatic Arts.