Andrew Eigbedion Sports Festival ends with thrilling finals at AAU Ekpoma

The second edition of the Andrew Eigbedion Annual Sports Festival for medical students at the College of Medicine, Ambrose Alli University has ended after nine days of competitive action that drew strong participation from students and the host medical community.

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The sporting fiesta, which began on 6 February, featured male and female football alongside indoor games such as chess, table tennis, snooker, checkers, ludo and ayo. Volleyball, badminton and scrabble competitions also formed part of the packed schedule.

The festival reached its climax with the male football final between the MED 2016 and MED 2017 sets. In a keenly contested encounter, MED 2017 defeated their senior counterparts 3–1 after what organisers described as a pulsating 90 minutes of high-quality football.

In the female football category, Team Hepzibah, captained by AAUMSA Vice President Esther Aima, emerged champions to cap an impressive campaign.

Individual accolades

Individual honours were also handed out across events. Vifa Isaac Arojie, popularly known as Afiv, was named Coach of the Tournament. Ihator Augustine stood out in the male football category, claiming both the Most Valuable Player award and the Top Goal Scorer prize, while Timothy Egumah was recognised as Best Defender and Theophilus Iremiren as Best Goalkeeper. Goodluck Arome finished as Top Assist provider.

In volleyball, Team D’Brand won the male title, with Eguolor Kpolugbo finishing as Highest Pointer. Team Colpher clinched the female volleyball crown, while Team D’Brand also topped the mixed (male and female) category.

Osaze Ogienhor and Itepu Eseosa Martha won the male and female badminton titles respectively. Ehiremen Izekor and Nelly Okoh triumphed in the male and female table tennis events.

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Pentecost Okoro and Ugbeva Precious were named Dr Andrew Eigbedion Sports Male and Female Enthusiasts respectively.

In the indoor games section, Victory Imuzai and Divine Enoghase claimed the male and female scrabble titles. Tosin Famurewa and Ese Oseimelu won in chess, while Williams Paul Omoh and Azeke Itohan Priscillia emerged champions in the male and female ludo categories. Precious Ugbeva won the female ayo event, Ihator Augustine added the male checkers title to his haul, and Timothy Egumah won the snooker competition.

Ambrose Ogbue was recognised as Best Football Referee (recommended for FIFA Badge) after officiating the male and female finals.

Speaking at the closing ceremony, Andrew Eigbedion, sponsor of the sports festival and Staff Adviser to AAUMSA, expressed satisfaction with the turnout and community engagement.

He said he was pleased with “the high turnout of Students who participated and the interest showed by the Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital Community made up of Residents and Staff who were keen spectators at the events.”

Mr Eigbedion also expressed his gratitude to the Chief Medical Director and Chief Executive Officer of the ISTH, Reuben Agbons Eifediyi, a professor, for making the Sports Field and Conference Hall available throughout the weeklong activities. He commended the AAUMSA President, David Ohiwerei, popularly known as D’Brand, and his executive team for their leadership since assuming office, and specifically praised the Director of Sports, Daniel Omoruyi, for the smooth organisation of the festival.

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The event attracted several notable personalities, including Wilson Ovienria, an associate professor, past Chairperson of the Medical Advisory Committee at the Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital; Cyril Obasuyi, Consultant Ophthalmologist; Cyril Erameh, Consultant Neurologist and Head of Department of Internal Medicine, AAU; Bruno Arekhandia, Consultant Neurosurgeon; Philip Irabor, President of the Association of Resident Doctors, ISTH; and Kerry Azeke, Specialist General Surgeon.

Together with other dignitaries, they presented medals to deserving individual and team winners.

By the close of proceedings, there was a general sense of satisfaction among students and spectators, underscoring the growing profile of the Andrew Eigbedion Sports Festival as a unifying platform for medical students at AAU and the wider Irrua medical community.