Athletes representing Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) at the 2024 Nigerian University Games (NUGA) have departed for Jos, Plateau State, to participate in the games and demonstrate the institution’s commitment to sport.

The announcement was made on Wednesday, 5th November, in a press release by the Great Ife Students’ Union. The Students’ Union described the delegation as a symbol of the university’s resilient and indomitable spirit, despite the many challenges surrounding sports development at the institution and across the nation.

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According to the union, the delegation is not merely competing, but aims to reignite the Great Ife sporting legacy, reminding the world that the Giants and Giantesses of Ife never back down from any challenge, and to uphold the unity and excellence for which the institution is known.

The Great Ife team will be competing in the following sports: Athletics, Table Tennis, Volleyball, Swimming, Squash, Boxing, Taekwondo, Chess, and Scrabble.

Accreditation Dispute

This development follows a NUGA accreditation dispute involving the eligibility of some OAU finalists, as reported earlier by The Association of Campus Journalists, OAU. ACJ OAU noted that some final-year students were excluded from the NUGA list due to accreditation rules. According to the university’s Director of Sports, Dr Ogunlusi, the issue arose from differing academic sessions, as NUGA registered athletes strictly under the 2024/2025 session, thereby disqualifying finalists classified under 2023/2024. With the issue now resolved, the delegation has proceeded to Jos with an indomitable spirit to participate in the games.

In addition, the Students’ Union has called upon the entire Great Ife community—students, alumni, staff, and well-wishers—to support the athletes as they represent this great citadel of learning at the national level.

The union also took this opportunity to call for continued investment, encouragement, and proper reforms in university sports, ensuring that every athlete who wears the OAU crest does so with full support from the institution.