GATIG '24: OOU VC, SENATE MEMBERS PRESENT MEDALS TO OOU ATHLETES

By John Oyebode 

The Vice-Chancellor of Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), Professor Ayodeji Agboola, alongside the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Academics, Professor Olatundun Oderinde, and other members of the Senate, has presented medals to student-athletes who represented the institution and secured podium finish at the Gateway Tertiary Institutions Games (GATIG) 2024. 

The medal presentation, which took place on Monday, December 16, at the Senate Building also witnessed the presence of the OOU Chairman of Sports Council, Professor Olufemi Kalesanwo, who expressed his delight about the performances put up by the institution's representatives at the competition, while speaking to Campus Mirror in an interview.

“I feel happy, and I feel we're adding more feathers to the image of the university. I was there on the final day, and I'm happy that we won football, took silver in female football, and won many gold medals; we're proud of this and we hope that they will improve on this performance to NUGA, where we'll be able to clear as many golds possible. 

“Surely, it deserves a sort of celebration, and we need to appreciate our athletes, upon the few facilities available, they can make the best use of it. They should keep it up and try to raise the flag higher all the time," he added.  
Professor Kalesanwo further discussed the indifferent attitude of some students to sporting activities, attributing it to ignorance, and further emphasized the benefits of engaging in sports. 

“I think it's a matter of ignorance and we need to educate them. You know, having an interest in sports, as I said, sports is an industry; even if you're a fan, you'll be benefiting from the sports industry, and if you're an athlete you will benefit from it as well. 

“It is ignorance that discourages people from sporting activities; we need to educate them and we need to create this type of awareness for them to know that nothing is lost as soon as you win, you'll be well appreciated. In developed countries, people live on sports even without a certificate,” he added. 

Meanwhile, the athletes ended their run at the GATIG 2024 with 22 medals in which 12 golds were secured from certain categories like Football, Table Tennis (Double) female, Ayo Olopon, and the like.