Benson Idahosa University (BIU), Benin City, has recorded another significant achievement in university sports, finishing third overall at the 15th West Africa University Games (WAUG) 2026 hosted by Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Osun State. The university's performance placed it among the leading institutions at the regional competition, reinforcing its growing reputation for sporting excellence.

Held from 2 to 12 October 2026, the Games brought together universities from across West Africa to compete in multiple sporting disciplines. BIU emerged with 38 medals comprising 21 gold, 10 silver and seven bronze, finishing behind host institution OAU and the University of Ghana in the final standings.

The achievement adds to BIU's recent success in university sports. Less than a year after claiming the overall championship at the 27th Nigerian University Games (NUGA Games) hosted by the University of Jos in 2025, the university has continued to demonstrate its competitiveness at regional level. At the NUGA Games, BIU secured 25 gold, six silver and three bronze medals, ending the University of Port Harcourt's run of national dominance, according to the institution's report.

Excellence Across Seven Sporting Disciplines

BIU's WAUG campaign was built on performances across seven sports: swimming, table tennis, squash, tennis, badminton, scrabble and athletics. The breadth of its participation reflected the university's strength across both individual and team events.

Swimming was a major contributor to the medal tally, with the team recording seven gold, three silver and three bronze medals. Joy Kimiakigha delivered notable performances in the women's 100-metre butterfly and 200-metre breaststroke, while Patience won gold in the women's 200-metre freestyle.

In table tennis, BIU secured four gold, two silver and one bronze medal. The team's performances included all-BIU finals, demonstrating the depth of talent within the institution and the competitiveness of its players across the tournament.

Squash also proved highly successful, with the team winning four gold, one silver and one bronze medal. Otuyo Eseoghene claimed gold in the women's singles and women's doubles, alongside silver in mixed doubles with Ojochegbe Daniel. Ayomide Yusuf won gold in the men's singles and men's doubles, partnering Daniel Friday in the latter event. BIU also secured gold in the women's doubles through Eseoghene and Dolapo Babatunde.

The badminton team made a particularly impressive contribution, winning three gold medals in the men's singles, women's singles and mixed doubles. Sunday Oyinloye defeated his opponent from the University of Ghana to win the men's singles, while Babatunde Dolapo secured the women's singles title against the University of Abuja. The pair subsequently won gold in mixed doubles. Notably, the athletes achieved these results on their first outing representing BIU as university students.

In tennis, the university recorded two gold and two silver medals, while scrabble contributed one gold and one bronze. Athletics added two silver medals through Felix Gyang, who finished second in both the men's 5,000-metre and 10,000-metre races.

Collectively, these results highlight the contribution of athletes across different disciplines to BIU's overall medal haul and the university's capacity to compete across a broad sporting programme.

Nigerian Universities Make Their Mark

While BIU's third-place finish was a major highlight, the WAUG 2026 standings also reflected the strength and diversity of university sports across Nigeria.

OAU topped the final standings with 122 medals, comprising 33 gold, 50 silver and 39 bronze. Competing on home ground, the host institution secured the overall title after ten days of competition. The University of Ghana finished second with 59 medals, including 26 gold, 21 silver and 12 bronze, while BIU took third place. 

The University of Ibadan (UI) finished fourth overall with 42 medals: 17 gold, 12 silver and 13 bronze. Its performance placed it among the strongest institutions at the Games and underscored the continued presence of Nigerian universities in the upper ranks of regional university sports.

Other Nigerian institutions featured prominently in the top ten. Lagos State University (LASU) finished fifth with 17 medals, while Afe Babalola University (ABUAD) placed sixth with 42 medals. Delta State University, Abraka, finished seventh with 11 medals, and the University of Ilorin placed eighth with 16 medals. Nile University of Nigeria completed the top ten in tenth position with nine medals. The University of Cape Coast, Ghana, occupied ninth place.

The standings demonstrate the competitive depth of Nigerian university sports, with public and private institutions recording notable results across the Games. They also reflect the role of regional competitions in providing student-athletes with opportunities to test their abilities against peers from different institutions and countries.

Building on Momentum in University Sports

BIU's performance at WAUG 2026 forms part of a wider period of activity and achievement in Nigerian university sports. The university's national success at the 27th NUGA Games in 2025, followed by its third-place finish at WAUG 2026, illustrates its continued presence in major university competitions.

Meanwhile, the University of Ibadan's sporting contributions extend beyond its WAUG results. In May 2026, UI hosted the 8th FASU AfroVarsity 3x3 Basketball Challenge, a competition that brought university basketball into focus and served as a qualifier for the FISU 3x3 World Cup. Such events broaden opportunities for student-athletes and strengthen connections between university competitions and the wider international university sports calendar.

The collective performances of BIU, OAU, UI, LASU, ABUAD, DELSU, the University of Ilorin and Nile University demonstrate the range of institutions contributing to the development of university sports in Nigeria. Their results also underline the importance of sustained preparation, coaching, athlete welfare, facilities and institutional support in helping student-athletes compete at higher levels.

A Testament to Teamwork and Institutional Support

BIU's 38-medal performance at the 15th WAUG Games reflects the efforts of its athletes and coaching personnel, alongside the support provided by the university's management under Vice-Chancellor Professor John A. Okhuoya and Chairman of Sports Mrs Eunice Adebayo-James.

The university's results across seven sporting disciplines demonstrate the value of supporting a broad sporting programme and creating opportunities for athletes to develop their abilities through competition. From the pool and courts to the athletics track, BIU's representatives contributed to a campaign that earned the institution third place in West Africa's university sports standings.

As Nigerian universities continue to compete at national and regional levels, performances such as BIU's provide a reminder of the talent within the university system and the potential for further progress through sustained investment and collaboration.

NUGA congratulates Benson Idahosa University and all participating institutions on their performances at the 15th West Africa University Games, celebrating the student-athletes, coaches and university communities whose efforts continue to advance university sports across Nigeria and the wider West African region.