Obafemi Awolowo University has officially unveiled the logo and mascot for the 2026 West African Universities Games, marking another major milestone ahead of the regional sporting event scheduled for October.
The countdown to the 2026 West African Universities Games (WAUG) has officially entered a new phase as Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, host of this year's tournament, unveiled the competition's official logo and mascot.
The unveiling signals the beginning of the final preparations for one of the region's biggest university sporting events, which is scheduled to hold from October 2 to October 12, 2026.
The Games are expected to bring together student-athletes, coaches and officials from universities across West Africa for ten days of competition, cultural exchange and regional collaboration.
One of the standout announcements during the unveiling was that both the official logo and mascot were selected through a West Africa-wide student design competition, giving students across the region an opportunity to shape the identity of the Games.
According to the organisers, the winning logo was designed by a student of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), while the official mascot was created by a student of Obafemi Awolowo University, the tournament's host institution.
The Local Organising Committee also announced that volunteer registration has opened for OAU students, offering opportunities to participate in sports event management, hospitality, logistics, media operations and other areas that support the successful delivery of the Games.
Beyond the medals and competition, organisers say WAUG 2026 aims to strengthen friendship among West African universities while promoting youth development, leadership, creativity and regional unity through sport.
As preparations continue over the coming weeks, attention will now shift to participating universities, athlete qualifications and the release of the competition schedule ahead of the opening ceremony in Ile-Ife this October.
