Moses Orshio Adasu University (MOAU), formerly Benue State University, sent a ten‑member squad to the 15th West African University Games (WAUG) in Ile‑Ife and returned with ten medals, earning the university a 13th‑place ranking out of over twenty participating institutions.
**Key facts**
- The Games ran from 2 October to 12 October 2026 under the theme “Uniting Universities, Inspiring Excellence.”
- MOAU’s medal tally comprised 2 gold, 3 silver and 5 bronze.
- Taekwondo contributed the bulk of the success with two gold, three silver and two bronze medals.
- Badminton added two bronze medals, while athletics supplied one bronze.
- The host, [Obafemi Awolowo University](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Obafemi_Awolowo_University), emerged as overall champion of the event.
**How did MOAU achieve this result?**
The university’s athletes excelled particularly in taekwondo, where they dominated the podium. Their performance in badminton and athletics also added to the overall medal count, allowing MOAU to finish ahead of many larger institutions.
**What did the university officials say?**
Dr. Victor Terkimbi Ikpato, Director of Sports and head of the delegation, praised Vice‑Chancellor Professor Timothy Terseer Alabar for funding the team despite fiscal challenges. He stated, “On behalf of the student‑athletes, coaches, and the entire contingent, I sincerely appreciate the Vice‑Chancellor and his management for sponsoring the University’s contingent to the Games in Ife.”
Taekwondo coach James Akor echoed the sentiment, noting the VC’s unwavering financial and moral support. He added, “This achievement marks the beginning of a new era in sports in the University under the leadership of Professor Alabar, who in his wisdom appointed a young, energetic, and complete sports manager and administrator, Dr. Ikpato, to lead sports development in the University.”
**Why is this milestone significant?**
The ten‑medal haul represents MOAU’s best performance at a West African university sporting event to date, signalling growing investment in sports infrastructure and talent development within the institution.
**What’s next for MOAU’s sports programme?**
University officials indicated that the momentum from WAUG will be leveraged to expand training facilities, attract qualified coaches, and increase participation in future regional competitions.