This weekend, the University of Port Harcourt became a landmark in Nigerian campus gaming history as the VC CUP: Campus Clutch (VC CUP Esports Edition) delivered competitive esports, career education, and unforgettable energy in one electrifying event.
With over 450 student participants, 1000+ community members activated, and dozens of partner ambassadors engaged, the VC CUP: Campus Clutch sparked new life into the esports community at the University of Port Harcourt.
From the Qualifiers (July 1st–3rd, 2025) to the Finals on July 5th, the energy never dropped.
The Champions of Uniport Esports
After three intense days of qualifiers and a massive finale at the Institute of Sports, Uniport Stadium, here are the official winners of the VC CUP: Campus Clutch across five game titles:
Call of Duty Mobile
🥇 Infinity – Faculty of Engineering
🥈 Sin of Pride – Faculty of Computing
🥉 Noobee (Wildcard) – Faculty of Computing
eFootball
🥇 Clemens – Faculty of Computing
🥈 One Master – Faculty of Science & Technology
🥉 SK – Faculty of Pharmacy
E-Chess
🥇 Yigakpoa – Faculty of Pharmacy
🥈Ojielo Chimaobi – Faculty of Engineering
🥉 Fitgee – Faculty of Clinical sciences
EAFC
🥇 Eleven – Faculty of Engineering
🥈 Dino – Faculty of Social Science
🥉 Hanson – Faculty of Management Science
Free Fire
🥇 Nkeonye Smith – Faculty of Education
🥈 Bigzoe – Faculty of Computing
🥉 Osaretin Bright – Faculty of Engineering
Learning Beyond the Game: Education, Inspiration & Innovation
The event wasn’t just about who could clutch the win, it was also about unlocking the future of gaming careers.
Louis Whyte led a powerful session on career paths in the gaming industry, shedding light on emerging roles in production, management, content creation, casting, and tech.
Tamar from Six Path Studios shared how students can get into video game programming, using the mobile game “Lt. Ahmed” (developed by Six Path) as a real-world example of Nigerian game development in action.
These moments were powerful. For many, it was the first time they truly saw themselves having a future in gaming not just as players, but as professionals.
A Word from the Director of Sports
The Director of the Institute of Sports, Uniport, praised the initiative, commending both Nexal Gaming and the Student Union Government (SUG) for their role in making the event a success.
He thanked the Vice Chancellor of Uniport for providing the space and support needed to explore such an opportunity and emphasized the university’s growing support for esports through the dedicated Esports Centre now allocated within the Institute.
“We need more activations like this,” he said, “to give students new opportunities to explore, aligned with the University of Port Harcourt’s motto – For Enlightenment and Self-Reliance.”
What This Means for Esports in Nigeria
The VC CUP: Campus Clutch at Uniport is the second activation in Nexal Gaming’s Engy Campus Clutch Tour, which seeks to:
- Partner with student governments and directors of sports
- Integrate esports into existing sports programs
- Build sustainable communities and career exposure for students
- Activate ambassadors for partner brands like Ridima and Bitoshi Africa
The numbers speak volumes:
- 450 students registered to compete
- 15 faculties were represented
- Over 1000 Uniport students activated through the gaming community
- Over 50 student ambassadors engaged on behalf of brand partners like Ridima and Bitoshi Africa
Across three days of qualifiers, hundreds of students gathered to compete, connect, and explore. The energy was electric and every match felt like a statement:
“We’re here. And we game hard.”
The future of gaming is being built right here – one campus at a time.
Last Updated on October 11, 2025
