The 21st edition of the Nigerian Polytechnic Games Association also known as NIPOGA yesterday ended at the Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo in Ondo State with The Federal Polytechnic Ado-Ekiti emerging the overall winners on the medals table with 23 Gold,14 Silver and Nine Bronze medals.
The second position goes to the Lagos State Polytechnic while The Polytechnic Ibadan finished third in the overall medals table.
Lagos State Polytechnic, Ikorodu came second with 13 Gold,22 Silver and 17 Bronze medals while The Polytechnic, Ibadan settled for third position with 10 Gold,One Silver and 11 Bronze medals.
Similarly, Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo female football team defeated Yaba College Technology, Yaba 3-2 in the final to emerge champions of 21st NIPOGA female football competition.While Federal Polytechnic Nasarawa also beat Federal Polytechnic Ede 3-1 through penalty shoot out to win male football event . After both sides played a goaless draw in the regulation time.
Declaring the game closed, the Ondo State governor Mr Oluwaroimi Akeredolu represented by the commissioner for Sports and Youths development, Otunba Bamidele Ologun applauded the organisers of the tournament and called for encouragement to sustain the games to help in harnessing young sporting talents.
On his part, the President of NIPOGA and Rector of the Rufus Giwa Polytechnic Owo, RUGIPO, Mr Adebola Gani Ogundahinsi said the aim of the games had been achieved which was to unite Nigerian youths and provide an avenue for talents to showcase their skills through sports.
Ogundahunsi attributed the successful hosting of the 21st NIPOGA to God Almighty, thanking the Governor of Ondo State, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu for his support.
Ogundahunsi added that resilience, hard working and proper preparation kept the LOC going from the beginning to the end of the games.
According to him, “the Ultimate was to organise a befitting competition that bring honour to the name of our institution and the state at large, we remain focus by not allowed anything to distract us”.
“I expect the next host, Delta State Polytechnic, Oghwuashi- Uku to do better that we did , because they would have learnt a lot from us.”
Delta state Polytechnic, Ugwachukwu will host the next edition of the NIPOGA games.
The Rector of the Delta State Polytechnic, Oghwuashi- Uku, Professor Emmanuel Achuenu who are going to host the 22nd edition of the games said their target was to do better than what RUGIPO has done.
He said: No doubt that RUGIPO has done a very good job,but we are going to ensure that we surpass them by organise a better games in 2025.
