SIFE WORLD COMPETITION: OAU CLINCHES 2ND POSITION



To further confirm its position as Nigeria’s best University in Africa, the students of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, have , again, jerked up the global rating of Nigeria by clinching second (2nd ) position in the just concluded World Competition of the students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) held in Singapore.

In a keenly contested competition, which was held for six (6) consecutive days, among Universities undergraduates across the world, OAU students demonstrated a high level of intellectual supremacy by defeating their counterparts from Universities in Britain, USA, Germany, Spain, Holland and Universities from other advanced countries of the world.

A release signed by the Public Relations Officer of the University,Mr Abiodun Olarewaju, states that the students, who had earlier participated in the preliminary stages, before sailing to the semifinal, surprised the international audience with their captivating performance which ‘catapulted’ them to the final of the competition with countries like Canada, India and host country, Singapore.

The rare exhibition of unprecedented academic prowess and the “ warrior must win” mentality of these youngsters drew an intermittent resounding applause from the international audience who saw them as continental ambassadors of Africa.

In a unanimous decision by renowned judges of world status, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, students came second (2nd), Canada came first (1st), India (3rd) and Singapore emerged 4th.

Welcoming the team back to Nigeria, the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Michael Faborode, commended the winning spirit of the students, describing them as worthy ambassadors of OAU, their parents and Nigeria.


He added that while some youths are busy denting the image of the country and dragging their families’ name in the mud, OAU students have gone outside the country on several occasion and brought laurels and unquantified honour to Nigeria. The Vice-Chancellor, therefore, implored them to keep the flag flying, informing them that their names would be written on the Roll of Honour of the University.

Earlier, the University Registrar, Mr. Ayo Ogunruku, who was the head of the delegation that accompanied the students to Singapore, had informed the Vice-Chancellor that the OAU/Nigeria team demonstrated some high degree of spartan discipline which made cynosure of all eyes at the global fiesta.

The cup will be formally presented to the Federal Government at a later date. It will be recalled that OAU students flew the Nation’s flag last having defeated their Nigeria’s counterparts from fifty-one (51) Universities. They eventually came 3rd at the SIFE International Competition held in New York, USA in 2007. The 2009 edition will hold in Germany.

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