Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, has emerged overall champion of the 15th West African University Games, finishing ahead of the University of Ghana with 122 medals.
The host institution won 33 gold, 50 silver and 39 bronze medals to top the official medal table released on Sunday.
The University of Ghana came second with 59 medals, comprising 26 gold, 21 silver and 12 bronze, while Benson Idahosa University placed third with 38 medals, including 21 gold.
The University of Ibadan finished fourth with 42 medals, comprising 17 gold, 12 silver and 13 bronze, while Lagos State University came fifth with 17 medals, including 10 gold.
Afe Babalola University placed sixth with 42 medals, while Delta State University, Abraka, finished seventh with 11 medals. The University of Ilorin and the University of Cape Coast occupied eighth and ninth positions respectively, each winning six gold medals.
Nile University of Nigeria completed the top 10 with six gold, one silver and two bronze medals.
The rankings were determined primarily by the number of gold medals won, followed by silver and bronze medals where necessary.
The competition, hosted by OAU in Ile-Ife, Osun State, was scheduled to run from October 2 to 12, featuring athletes from universities across West Africa.
In a report ahead of the Games, OAU said the opening ceremony brought together 50 universities, with more than 1,500 athletes and officials expected to participate in 18 sports.
The university’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Adebayo Simeon Bamire, described the competition as an investment in young people.
“For OAU, the Games are an investment in the future of our youth,” Bamire said, adding that the institution wanted the infrastructure and systems developed for the event to benefit its community beyond the competition.
West African University Games President Ibrahim Tanko Shaibu also urged athletes to uphold sportsmanship.
“Give your best, respect your opponents and officials,” he told participants at the opening ceremony.
The closing ceremony was expected to celebrate the achievements of participating institutions and athletes, as well as the values of fair play, resilience and friendship.
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