Get Guardian on GoogleMOUA wins Abia Tertiary Institutions Games
The Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike (MOUAU) has won the second Abia State Tertiary Education Sports Fiesta with an impressive 110 medals. The university clinched 47 gold, 47 silver and 42 bronze medals to secure the top position in the keenly contested sporting fiesta, which brought together tertiary institutions across the state.
At the event sponsored by the Abia State government, the Ogbonnaya Onu Polytechnic finished second with 98 medals, comprising 47 gold, 31 silver and 20 bronze medals, while Abia State University, Uturu (ABSU), came third with 87 medals, made up of 37 gold, 29 silver and 21 bronze medals.
Gregory University, Uturu, occupied the fourth position with 68 medals, including 37 gold, 15 silver and 16 bronze medals.
Speaking at the closing ceremony at the Umuahia Township Stadium, at the weekend, Abia State Governor, Dr Alex Otti, reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to education, describing sports as an essential component of the all-round development of students in tertiary institutions.
The governor, who was represented by the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Ikechukwu Uwanna, said his administration places a high premium on education, noting that education goes beyond the acquisition of academic certificates to include physical, mental and social development.
He described the participation of 18 tertiary institutions in 24 sporting events as a remarkable achievement that would contribute significantly to the holistic development of students and prepare them for the challenges of the outside world.
“Having 18 institutions compete in about 24 sporting competitions is a hit. And we know that this will contribute greatly to the all-round development of our students.
“But if the brick and mortar are overhauled and the mind remains the same, we have achieved little. So we know that what is happening today will overhaul the minds of our children and make us ready for the outside world,” Otti stated.
He congratulated all participating institutions and students, emphasising that participation in the fiesta had benefits beyond winning medals and trophies and commended the organisers, including the Commissioners for Tertiary Education and Youth and Sports Development, as well as Special Adviser on Tertiary Education, among others, for a job well done.
In her speech, the Commissioner for Tertiary Education, Prof Uche Eme Uche said the competition was conceived out of recognition that education goes beyond class room instructions and academic achievements, noting that the holistic development of students should include physical fitness.
Prof Emeh-Uche said the second competition shows that there is greater enthusiasm in the fiesta and thanked Governor Otti for sponsoring the competition.
Earlier, the Chairman of Central Working Committee and Special Adviser to Governor on Tertiary Education, Dr Emeka Enyiazu, said the past few days demonstrated that the fiesta was more than sporting competition.
“It is a bold expression of unity, inclusion, talent discovery, and infinite potential of our young people.
We have brought federal, state, private institutions together, broken institutional barriers, created common platform where talent, not institutional status, takes centre stage,” Enyiazu said.
He said students displayed courage, discipline, teamwork, resilience and healthy competition, discovering the strengths and building friendships beyond boundaries of respective campuses.
Enyiazu said while the fiesta has produced winners and medal holders, it also created opportunities for tomorrow’s champions to emerge, expressing the belief that among athletes are future national and international champions whose journey may have begun on the platform.
