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WAUG Media Consultant Pays Working Visit To UniPort

Ahead of the 14th edition of the West African University Games (WAUG) fiesta now to be hosted by the University of Port Harcourt in April, 2017, renowned Marketing and Media Consultant, Mr. Olukayode Thomas, has unveiled strategies aimed at attracting sponsorship for the Games, reports Otikor Samuel.


Receiving the Consultant and Designer of WAUG Mascot and Logo, Mr. Onyemachi Nwabueze in his office on Monday, August 1, 2016, Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ndowa Lale, told the Consultant to leverage on the already established reputation of the University in sporting activities as reigning champions of the Nigerian Universities Games Association (NUGA) and WAUG competitions at successive competitions to attract huge sponsorship for the Games.


The Vice-Chancellor also commended Mr. Nwabueze, who lectures in the Department of Fine Arts and Design in the Faculty of Humanities for designing the Mascot and Logo for the Games, which was well-received by the WAUG delegation that earlier visited the University for that purpose.
Introducing the guests to the Vice-Chancellor, Director of the Sports Institute, Professor Ken Anugweje, said the WAUG delegation gave pass mark to Mr. Nwabueze's design, informing Professor Lale that the Deputy Vice-Chancellor in charge of Administration and Chairman of the Central Organising Committee of the Games, Professor Anthony Ibe, who stood in for him at the presentation of the Mascot and Logo would further brief him on details of the submission of the WAUG delegation and other issues associated with the build-up to the eagerly awaited Games.     
In a side line interview with the Sports Correspondent of UniPort Weekly, Mr. Thomas, stressed the need to package a world-class marketing and media strategy for the hosting of the Games, promising that the impression that would be left on the participants and other stakeholders after the hosting of the Games in UniPort would be a memorable one.


“Basically, it is not just a package for WAUG, it is all about how we can use WAUG competition to bring other universities to key into the highly successful UniPort model. We are also determined to encourage government, corporations and the private sectors to key into sports, which is the best way of bringing young people together and discovering new stars. We want other universities to emulate this University by imbibing a vibrant sports culture. We have what it takes to be the best in sports in the world and that is the ultimate target of the Games for me,” the Consultant said, commending the Vice-Chancellor for committing the University to sports development in the University just as his predecessors did.
“WAUG has come to UniPort, but it is not just a Port Harcourt project; it is a Nigerian project, and so all hands must be on deck to make a success of the Games. Remember that it is not only for Nigerians, so if we host the best Games, the participants who will be future leaders of these West African countries will leave with a very good impression about us. I, therefore, charge all of us to be totally committed to the project so that the coming WAUG Games in UniPort will be a reference point,” he said. 


Mr. Thomas also showered encomiums on Professor Anugweje, stating that: “Nigeria is lucky to have somebody like Anugweje who is passionate, committed and believes in sports science. The introduction of sports science to the training exercises for athletes is the best way to go now and those who follow this model which Professor Anugweje strongly advocated are reaping the gains today.”
The Consultant later held exploratory talks with Head of the Publicity and Documentation sub-Committee of the Games, Williams Wodi, to chart the way forward in publicising the event to attract more sponsorship.


In another development, Head Coach of the Rivers State Cricket Association, Mr. Tonye Timinadi, donated several Cricket kits to the Sports Institute on Thursday, August 4, 2016 with the intention of boosting the game in the University.
Speaking to our Sports Correspondent on the donation, Director of the Institute, Professor Ken Anugweje, said the equipment would boost the Cricket section of the Institute and motivate staff and students to play the game. He conveyed the appreciation of the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ndowa Lale to the donor for his kind gesture, urging other public-spirited individuals and groups to follow the good example of Mr. Timinadi to hasten the growth of Cricket in the State.


“Following the resuscitation of interest in the game of Cricket and owing to the fact that many of our students are members of the Rivers State Cricket team that play in the National Cricket League, I can confidently say that the game of Cricket has been fully revived in the University. It is in recognition of this fact that the Head Coach of the Rivers State Cricket Association, Mr. Tonye Timinadi has made a donation of various cricket kits in preparation for the forthcoming WAUG Games here,” Anugweje said, further commending the Vice-Chancellor for approving the building of a befitting pavilion at the Cricket pitch. 


The equipment which was taken delivery of by Cricket Coach, Mr. Benjamin Nwankwo, included bats, batting gloves, pairs of batting pad, wicket keeper pads and gloves, machine and red match balls, abdominal boxes and kit bags. Chief Coach of Team UniPort, Mr. Godpower Geoffrey, also witnessed the handover ceremony.

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