OAU Agog As Universities Students Arrive For WAUG (Photos, Videos)

The Obafemi Awolowo University, OAU, Ile Ife, was agog on Saturday as students from various universities across West Africa arrived for the West African Universities Games (WAUG) which is scheduled to start today, December 16th, 2023.

It was gathered that participants from various universities who were expected to participate in the games have started arriving at OAU with coaster buses seen transporting participants on the university campus.

Findings revealed that the participants have started engaging themselves in several rehearsals on campus ahead of the official opening of the event.

Osun Defender had earlier reported that the renovation of the OAU basketball court has been successfully completed by the University management, ensuring top-notch facilities for the participating athletes.

It was also gathered that the university management has implemented robust security measures. CCTV cameras have been strategically installed across various locations within the campus to create a secure and monitored environment throughout the duration of the games.

The University management has installed floodlights at key areas in the campus which include the main bowl and basketball court, showcasing the university’s commitment to providing optimal visibility and a vibrant atmosphere for both participants and spectators.

Earlier, the institution’s Public Relations Officer (PRO), Abiodun Olanrewaju, had said that the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, would be the special guest of honour during the opening and closing ceremonies of the games.

“The closing ceremony will come up on 22 December,” he added.

WAUG, also known as the ECOWAS Students Games, is a multi-sport event between student-athletes from West African universities.

The first edition of the competition was held in 1965 at the University of Ibadan, Nigeria’s premier university.

It has been held for four to six years since 1989. OAU, then the University of Ife, had hosted the games only once. It hosted the sixth edition of the competition in 1975.

Among the six Nigerian universities that have ever hosted the games, OAU will be the first to hold it more than once as the 15th edition holds on its campus in December.

Nigerian universities that have hosted the games in the past are the University of Ibadan, which hosted the first edition in 1965; University of Lagos, fourth edition, 1971; University of Ife (now OAU), sixth edition, 1975; University of Benin, ninth edition, 1995; University of Ilorin, 13th edition, 2012; and University of Port Harcourt, the last and 14th edition, in 2018.