By: Aduwo Ayodele

The Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration), Professor Peter Olapegba has on Friday, February 9, 2024, charged athletes of the University of Ibadan, at the last West African University Games (WAUG) to apply as much discipline as they attached to sports to their academics.

The Deputy Vice-Chancellor Administration, gave the charge on behalf of the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Kayode O. Adebowale, while receiving the athletes and officials of the University Sports Council who paid the management a courtesy visit.

Professor Olapegba noted that the students needed to focus on personal development, which is key to sports and always see themselves as ambassadors of the University anywhere they go.

Congratulating the athletes for representing the University well, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor noted that the athletes have made the University proud at the WASU Games.

He further encouraged the athletes to put more efforts, in order to do more for the Premier University which is ‘the first and the best.’

He explained that in sports, athletes as young men and women should be disciplined all round and should extend same to their personal lives and academics.

The DVC made reference to the Deputy Vice-Chancellor Academic, Professor Aderonke Baiyeroju, who as a great athlete during her undergraduate years won medals for the University as well as four Gold medals for Nigeria, and is today a renowned Professor of Opthalmology.

He then appreciated the Sports Council for effective leadership, which had helped to lift the banner of the University of Ibadan higher. He gave the assurance that the University would give needed support to the Sports Council to enable it continue to excel.

In his response, the Acting Director of Sports, Mr O. K. Eyiomo explained that the UI contingent actively participated in the last West Africa Universities Games held at the Obafemi Awolowo University in December 2023.

The University of Ibadan won three silver and four bronze medals to place itself in the 13th position out of the 27 Universities that participated.

The Chairman of the Sports Council, Professor Ebenezer Morakinyo said the medals were unavailable at the sports festival but were only sent to the university a few days ago.

The medallists were: Ayodeji Victoria Ayomide – Bronze medal; Babajide Perpetual Taiwo- Silver medal; Jimoh Deborah Oluwanifemi- Bronze medal; Adedigba Oluwakorede John – Silver Medalist who also represented Nigeria in the World Universities Games in China last year; Adekola Tinuade Oluwapelumi – Silver Medalist and who also represented Nigeria in China last year; Faniyi Sekinat Oluwapamilerin – Silver and Bronze medals in two different games.

The athletes were finally decorated with the medals on behalf of the organising committee and in appreciation of their deeds.