The 15th Edition of the West African University Games, hosted at Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, concluded on Sunday, 11th of October, 2026, with the host University securing first place on the medal table and UI finishing in 4th. The University of Ibadan claimed 4th place with 17 gold medals, and were pipped to the podium by Benson Idahosa University with 21 golds. OAU with 33 golds and the University of Ghana with 26 golds made up the top two.
The University of Ibadan’s 17 golds, 12 silvers and 13 bronzes included wins in scrabble, chess, taekwando, squash, athletics, judo and swimming. Amongst the winners were UIMSAites, Okojie Simeon, Osuntoki Favour, Osisanwo Ifeoluwa and Akinyemi David, all representing the chess team. Okojie claimed gold in blitz chess and on board 1 of the individual chess event with Osuntoki securing gold on board 5 and silver in the women’s team event. Akinyemi won silver on board 3 of the individual event, and Akinyemi, Osisanwo and Okojie were part of the bronze medal-winning open chess team.
Speaking with the contingent, the Chairman of the UI Sports Council, Professor Isiaka Oladipo, was full of praise for their achievements. He commended them not only for their sporting success but also for the character they showed through the course of the event, and urged all present to prepare substantially for the next varsity sports centrepiece, the 2027 National University Games to be hosted at the University of Calabar, Cross River. At the same time, the sports don talked up the chances of UI hosting the National University Games soon, a welcome development in the wake of her hosting of the FASU AfroVarsity 3×3 Basketball Challenge.