Chinedu Okafor
The Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE) recorded an impressive outing at the 2025 Nigerian University Games Association (NUGA) competition in Jos, clinching a total of 12 medals across athletics, taekwondo, judo, boxing and football, which lifted the institution to 15th place on the overall medal table.
The university’s athletes delivered some of their finest performances yet, demonstrating strength, speed, strategy and determination across several categories, with athletics emerging as the most rewarding department for the FUOYE contingent.
In the women’s track events, Taofikat Sulaimon was one of the brightest stars of the Games as she powered FUOYE to a commanding gold medal in the 4x100m relay, stopping the clock at 48.53 seconds in a stunning team finish that electrified the stadium.
Analysts described Sulaimon’s performance as the hallmark of elite sprinting, especially as she also secured two additional silver medals in the highly competitive 100m and 200m finals, marking her as one of the standout sprinters of NUGA 2025.
In the hurdles events, Oyindamola Oyinloye added to FUOYE’s medal haul by clinching bronze in the women’s 400m hurdles. Her calm execution over each barrier earned praise from coaches and spectators who commended her endurance and race management.
Oyinloye was also part of the victorious 4x100m relay squad that delivered a gold medal finish for the university, further strengthening FUOYE’s dominance on the track. She was joined in the relay lineup by Adebowole Adetomi and Dare Favour, both of whom played critical roles in achieving the team’s winning time.
The taekwondo team also produced remarkable results as FUOYE secured three bronze medals across different weight categories, proving the institution’s growing strength in martial arts.
In the men’s 54kg fin weight class, Abdul-Rahman Olajide clinched a bronze medal after a fiercely contested bout, showcasing agility and technique that impressed observers familiar with the sport.
The women’s taekwondo squad added two more bronze medals through Akoro Maume Eniola in the 46kg fin category and Adeshina Abdulbatin Adedeji in the 63kg bantam category, reflecting the technical depth and resilience of FUOYE’s fighters.
The judo mat also produced success for the institution as Ademishowon Adeola secured a silver medal in the 66kg men’s finals. His strong showing placed FUOYE among the leading institutions in the judo event, highlighting the university’s broad talent base.
FUOYE’s medal run continued in the boxing ring where Rianat Titilayo Adebayo delivered a commanding performance to win gold in the 60kg female category, displaying power, precision and tactical intelligence that earned her applause from boxing enthusiasts.
Beyond medals, FUOYE made notable appearances in scrabble, lawn tennis, table tennis and swimming. Although the teams were edged out by strong opponents in the second round and quarter-final stages, officials commended the athletes for competing with courage and sportsmanship.
The highlight of FUOYE’s NUGA campaign, however, came from the football pitch where the FUOYE Queens made history by winning the prestigious female football gold medal after a dramatic 2–1 victory over the University of Lagos (UNILAG) in the final.
The Queens’ journey was marked by determination and tactical brilliance from their 1–1 opener against UNIOSUN to their emphatic 4–2 victory over JOSTUM, and a fiercely contested semi-final against host institution UNIJOS before sealing their triumph in the championship match.
With their total medal haul across multiple sporting categories, FUOYE’s 2025 NUGA campaign has been described as a landmark achievement that resonates the university’s emergence as a rising power in Nigerian university sports, inspiring a new generation of athletes and strengthening the institution’s sporting legacy.