In a display of talent and sportsmanship, the University of Ghana has emerged as the overall winner of the highly anticipated West African University Games hosted by Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), having won 10 Gold, 8 Silver and 3 Bronze medals.
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The closing ceremony of the WAUG was held at the OAU sports complex on Thursday, 11th of December, 2023 . Afterwards, the students from the Department of Music led the National anthem, Ghana anthem, OAU anthem, and WAUG anthem. Also, the Ghana team requested for the OAU anthem to be sung again because they love it.
Giving his speech, WAUG President, Ibrahim Tanko, appreciated all the athletes who participated in the games. Also, the Vice Chancellor of Obafemi Awolowo University, Professor Simeon Bamire in his speech, sent his regard to the principals of the institution and also the committee for the WAUG event, and games officials of all universities. He appreciates the WAUG President, Ibrahim Tanko for making Great Ife the first to host this event after the restoration. Also, he congratulated the president on his 4 years term.
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Prof. Bamire gave God the glory for the success of the event for the past week. According to him, The hosting of WAUG on the soil of Great Ife has been a great week of excitement, emotions and energy. It is a privilege of lifetime. Since the arrival of the participant the past week we have been listening to your dedication, commitment and achievement.
Speaking further, he said ‘I would like to extend my gratitude to all the stakeholders who have contributed to the success of this year’s WAUG. You could read joy and happiness in the face of everyone. As a student in all universities and coaches make it successful. The organizing committee both local and international thank you all’.
‘It is now time to greet ourselves goodbye. Let me reflect on some take-home points based on my experience. It takes a lot of commitment, hard work, selflessness, determination and team spirit to break boundaries and barriers as demonstrated by all the participants in this event. The idea of hosting this game is a true test of institutional determination amidst several challenges and constraints showing that we can achieve great things,’ he said.
The Vice-Chancellor took time to encourage the sportsmen and women to take the WAUG competition as a lesson that wherever they find themselves, they can achieve great things despite the limitations. According to the Vice-Chancellor, Individual participants have shown that there is beauty in every competition. He further commended all the participants for their exceptional performance as they displayed a high level of sportsmanship, discipline, and commitment throughout the event.
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‘I saw the unbroken spirit of teammates and I also saw the opposing team sharing their opponent’s victory. This is the celebration of sports spirit as we have made memories that will last a lifetime. You not only show respect to one another but you support yourself in the attainment of victory’, he said.
Ponting out the lesson learnt, he said, ‘We need to learn to work together, lifting others while setting aside our differences to achieve a common goal, because a tree does not make a forest and no man is an island of knowledge’.
‘The outcome of this event has taught us a great lesson inspiring all of us in particular our leaders and resonates well with this team of WAUG. Promoting unity and excellence in West Africa through sport. For the competition, we have 22 universities from the West African Sub-region with 296 delegates and over twenty-five thousand viewers watching the event all over. In these games, we have 45 golds, 44 silvers, and 54 bronzes congratulations to the medalist. you have practice day and night and your hard work is been rewarded. Collect your medal with joy and feel good about it’. Prof. Bamire added.
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He further encouraged them that there would be more medals for them in the future I believe, these medals are symbols to show they will excel and tile their world. The lesson for them is that they must always strive for greater heights through the instrumental of hard work, perseverance, commitment, focus and strong ethical values.
Finally, he congratulated all the medalists and all who didn’t win medals. ‘Whether medals are won or not you are all winners. The facts remain that with your active participation, you have been richly blessed with fitness and happiness. Winning or losing is not as important as having happiness’. he added
There was a Taekwondo exhibition to complement the glorious event. Furthermore, the Looschange came to present to the winners of their promo, in which Iroju Samuel was the 1st winner with cash of five hundred thousand Naira, 2nd winner Afoja Anuoluwapo Faith with cash of three hundred thousand naira and 3rd winner Favour Adesuwa with cash if one hundred thousand Naira
Consequently, the Most Valuable Player for the male athlete’s category was Enoch Fasunik from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Ghana, while the Most Valuable Player in the female athlete’s category was Ayinde Ayokemi from Obafemi Awolowo University, Nigeria.
Also, the Most Valuable Player award in the basketball male category was Moses Johnson from Obafemi Awolowo University, Nigeria while Egbetunde Ifeoluwa from OAU won the female category.
The Most Valuable Player in Table Tennis for males was Boboye Samuel from Benson Idahosa University and the female was Hope Oduaka from Benson Idahosa University, Edo State, Nigeria.
Also, the Most Valuable Player for Long Tennis game for the male category was Issac Krage from Ibrahim Babangida University, Niger State, Nigeria, while the female category was Godwin Mary from Benson Idahosa University, Edo State, Nigeria.
Afterwards, awards were presented to the overall winners of WAUG. Benson Idahosa University, Edo State, Nigeria came in 3rd position with 6 golds, 2 silvers and 2 bronzes University of Education Winneba, Ghana came in 2nd position with 6 golds, 4 silvers and 4 bronzes. The University of Ghana was the champion with 10 golds, 8 silvers and 3 bronzes in a total of 21 medals.
There were mixed feelings about the celebration as the Director of Sports for the University of Ghana, Becca Bello Bitugu said one of the athletes lost his mother yesterday and he read the condolence message that was sent from the Registrar of the University of Ghana as instructed that they should be dedicated to Oyeyemi Oyewale Johnson.
Speaking to ACJOAU correspondent, Director of Sports for the University of Ghana, Becca Bello Bitugu, said they were excited and felt very fulfilled. According to him, they never thought it was going to be like this even with the tragic event. However, he said some things that motivated his students to put all effort into the games was that they were given scholarship funds and sports that distinguish them from the others.
With this excitement and celebration, the University of Ghana students requested for the Great Ife anthem to be sung again as they rejoice.