Medal-winning athletes of Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK), Awka, have paid a courtesy visit to the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Ugochukwu Bond Stanley Anyaehie, following their impressive performance at the 12th All African University Games (FASU Games) in Cairo, Egypt.
The delegation, led by the Chairman of the University Sports Committee (USC), Prof. Derek Orji, visited the Vice-Chancellor at the Council Chamber, where the athletes and officials expressed appreciation to the University Management for its support and encouragement throughout their participation in the continental competition.
Speaking during the visit, Prof. Orji thanked the Vice-Chancellor for approving and supporting the University’s participation in the Games, saying the student-athletes had made both UNIZIK and Nigeria proud.
He disclosed that the University competed in three sporting events—football, taekwondo and athletics—and returned with three medals.
The Acting Director of Sports, Comrade Anthonia Chukwudi, also commended the athletes for serving as worthy ambassadors of the University.
She expressed appreciation to the Vice-Chancellor for his sustained support for the Sports Directorate and commitment to the welfare and success of UNIZIK athletes at national and international competitions.
According to her, some of the athletes who won medals in Cairo had also distinguished themselves at the last Nigerian University Games Association (NUGA) Games, where they won medals.
Responding, Prof. Anyaehie congratulated the athletes and officials on their performance and urged them to remain focused, disciplined and committed to achieving greater success.
He commended the team for competing fairly and representing UNIZIK with discipline, dignity and sportsmanship despite the challenges encountered during the journey.
The Vice-Chancellor, however, advised the athletes to exercise caution when approached by sports scouts with attractive offers, particularly those involving contracts.
He urged them to always consult the Sports Directorate before signing any agreement, stressing that doing so would enable them to receive appropriate guidance and understand the implications of such contracts.
Prof. Anyaehie further pledged the University’s continued support for the athletes, including scholarship opportunities for the remaining period of their studies, particularly for medal-winning athletes.
He also disclosed plans to establish formal partnerships that would enable student-athletes to pursue sporting and academic careers simultaneously.
In her vote of thanks, a member of the team, Miss Okafor Chiamaka, expressed gratitude to the Vice-Chancellor and University Management for their support.
She said the team’s performance at the continental competition further demonstrated UNIZIK’s commitment to promoting sports development alongside academic excellence.
A major highlight of the visit was the presentation of an award from the Egyptian Ministry of Sports and Higher Education to the Vice-Chancellor by the USC Chairman and the Acting Director of Sports, in recognition of his support for the University’s athletes.
Other members of the delegation included Mr. Franklin Ohazulike, Coach of the female football team, and Mr. Ofoma Obumneme.
Among the medalists were Mary Ogisi and Nnatu Benedicta, both of the Department of Human Kinetics and Sports Science. Ogisi won a silver medal in taekwondo, while Nnatu secured silver in the women’s 3,000-metre steeplechase.
The University’s 18-member female football team also won a bronze medal, finishing as the third-best university female football team in Africa.
The visit provided an opportunity for the University Management to celebrate the athletes’ achievements and reaffirm UNIZIK’s commitment to supporting student-athletes to excel both in sports and academics.
