The Vice Chancellor of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Osun State, Prof. Simeon Bamire, has unveiled a mascot for the 2023 West African Universities Games (WAUG), with a hint that the Honourable Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, will be the special guest of honour at the opening and closing ceremonies of the programme to be hosted by the university.
Unveiling the mascot at the institution’s floor “0” on Monday at a press conference in preparation for the hosting of the games by the university, the Vice Chancellor hinted that 200 universities are expected to participate in the activities.
He thereafter assured that the institution has concluded every necessary arrangement to make the stay of all officials, participants, and their handlers worthwhile during the activities.
According to him, Sport is very important, and I think this was what our forefathers considered in making sure that we have a standard sports centre in our school to cater for the restiveness of our students and even staff.”
“It is a recreational centre for relaxation and many other things that have to do with our health. It is also an important contributor to ensuring that people are able to think well. It helps the learning process, which is part of what we enjoy here.”
“The sports activities have helped to tackle and reduce restiveness among our students and give them opportunities to relax, “he stressed.
“I hereby call on all stakeholders, most especially our friends, contractors, alumni, and the press, to be our partners in progress in making sure that the next edition of this West African Universities Games, WAUG, is a masterpiece and a grandiloquent success.”
“Let me invite public-spirited individuals, corporate organisations, captains of industry, members of the diplomatic corps, seasoned administrators, and sports enthusiasts to assist us financially and materially. We are also open to negotiations for sponsorship.”
“At this juncture, I will like to thank, very immensely, the Executive Governor of Oyo State, Engineer Seyi Makinde, who, within very short notice, rendered unbelievable assistance towards our hosting of the West African Universities Games. Your Excellency, you are indeed a pacesetter.”
“Permit me to appreciate the Governor of Osun State, His Excellency, Senator Ademola Nurudeen Jackson Adeleke, for his fatherly disposition and the commitment of his administration towards our hosting this event.
May the Lord continue to grant our amiable governor the required wisdom, knowledge, and understanding to further take our dear state to much greater heights”.
Professor Bamire, however, said, “As the institution has been given the hosting right to host the next edition of the games, it gives me joy to formally welcome you all to our prestigious university.”.
“For the record, Obafemi Awolowo University is not a stranger to sports and sporting activities; we have, on different occasions, gone out to compete nationally and internationally and have won medals in different categories for the country and this university.
We have equally produced sportsmen and women who are representing our country, Nigeria, and the continent of Africa. In other words, our university is another name for sports.”
“Having hosted the National Universities Games (NUGA) a few years ago with state-of-the-art facilities that are of Olympic standard, we are still going to use the same facilities in an upgraded manner.
We want to use this medium to sincerely appreciate the officials of WAUG for the confidence reposed in us and for counting our university worthy of hosting these all-important sporting events.
We hereby promise to do our best to ensure that the games are hitch-free and the welfare of participants and officials is taken care of.”
“The championship, which comprises tennis, table tennis, basketball, and athletics, will feature sportsmen and women from universities in Nigeria and universities from countries within the West Africa sub-region,” he submitted.
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