By Ikenna Nwokedi
Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka have emerged champions of the Prof. Charles Esimone Invitational Athletics And Combat Sports Championship Athletics held on Friday, May 24th and Saturday, May 25th, 2024 at the UNIZIK Stadium Complex.
UNIZIK emerged tops on the medals’ table with 29 medals comprising of 12 gold, 12 silver and 5 bronze ahead of five other universities that featured at the two-day sporting programme which also marked the official launching of the Stadium’s Tartan Tracks.
UNIZIK Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Charles Esimone was honoured during the two-day sports program with the award as ‘ICON of Sports Development in the South East Nigerian Universities’ endorsed by the SEUGA council and powered by the University Sports Community.
Reacting to the award, Prof. Esimone thanked the staff of the University who worked with his administration in ensuring that the institution is taken to higher heights through sporting events.
The Vice-Chancellor informed that the event and the existing tartan tracks is a testament to his administration’s commitment to transform the landscape of sports in UNIZIK while also eulogizing the SEUGA council for their drive and commitment towards sports development in South East universities.
On his part, the Chairman, University Sports Committee, Dr. Dereck Orji stated that the SEUGA sporting program was an opportunity to honour Prof. Esimone for his visionary and transformational leadership in the institution of which sports is a part of.
He also commended the VC for his approvals in ensuring that there is a historic competition as part of activities geared towards launching the tartan tracks.
At the end of the games, the University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN) came second on the medals’ table with a total of 24 medals comprising of 11 gold, 13 silver and 1 bronze while Abia State University finished third on the log with a total of 10 medals (3 gold, 3 silver and 4 bronze).
Paul University were fourth with Spiritan University and Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT) finishing 5th and 6th respectively.
The track event that featured at the games were 100 metres, 200 metres, 400 metres, 4×100 metres, 4×400 metres and 800 metres while Taekwondo and Judo featured in the combat sports event.
