ENUGU – The 14th edition of West Africa University Football and Hockey Championships of all Universities in the West African sub-region has commenced in The University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN), Enugu State with the aim of promoting regional co-operation through sports. The event so far has in attendance 26 Universities.
Declaring the sports event open, the Vice Chancellor, University of Nigeria Nsukka, Prof. Benjamin Chukwuma Ozumba commended the efforts of those who conceived the idea of the sporting event in the West African sub-region noting that such vision will serve as a unifying force among member nations.
Prof. Ozumba said the motive of the University to host the 14th Sports Championship hinged on its philosophy of restoring the dignity of man, positing that the event will provide a platform for young budding University athletes from different Universities in the West African Sub-region to participate and display excellence in sporting skills and competence.
According to the VC of the first Indigenous University in Nigeria, the West African University Games (WAUG) will also provide both participants and spectators the opportunity to interact, socialize and make new friends with their counterparts from other Institutions.
Speaking earlier, WUAG President Prof. Kingsley Akpabio commended the UNN Vice-Chancellor for hosting the event, he however, assured all participating Universities of his readiness to be fair to all.
Prof. Akpabio warned ‘the aim of these games is to build strong and reliable athletes who will represent Africa in the future, so be on your best behaviour and may the best team win’.
The Football tournament has eight groups of competing teams.
Chidiebere Ezeani, U-Media Reporter