The Vice-Chancellor, Cross River University of Science and Technology (CRUTECH), Calabar, Prof. Ene-Obong E. Ene-Obong, has commmended the school’s representatives at the just-concluded NUGA Games zonal elimination for a “respectable outing”.

Ene-Obong, gave the commendation in an interview with newsmen on Tuesday in Calabar on the institution’s closure since October 2010.

CRUTECH, host of the competition took fourth position with 10 gold, eight silver and eight bronze medals.

The University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT) came tops with 62 gold, 37 silver and three bronze medals.

The University of Calabar (UNICAL) was second with 18 gold, 10 silver and 10 bronze, while the University of Uyo (UNIUYO) came third with 12 gold, 20 silver and nine bronze medals.

The Federal University of Technology (FUTO), Owerri, took eight gold, 10 silver, and 19 bronze medals to pick the fifth position.

Other universities which participated are Niger Delta University, Wilberforce Island, Bayelsa, which placed sixth and Rivers State University of Science and Technology, Port Harcourt, seventh.

Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO), was eighth.

“I am impressed with the CRUTECH contingent’s performance because we are the youngest among the eight universities at the three-day NUGA Zone “D” preliminaries,” he said.

Ene-Obong said that he was optimistic that the school which had been on vacation following a strike by the institution’s branch of the Academic Staff Union of Universities would resume soon.

“The committee set up by Gov. Liyel Imoke of Cross River on the matter is expected to submit its report to him.

“I am optimistic that the university will resume very soon,” Ene-Obong said.

Meanwhile, Rivers State University of Science and Technology and Niger Delta University are to represent the zone in the football event of the Games to be hosted by University of Benin in March.

UNICAL and Rivers State University are also expected to fly the zone’s flag in table tennis, while CRUTECH and UNIPORT are slated for badminton.