By Victor Lewis
Member representing Isoko Federal Constituency, Hon. Jonathan Ukodhiko, the Isoko Nation, Delta State and indeed, the entire nation have been thrown into mourning with the loss of a retired internationally-renowned athlete and sports administrator, Dr. Awoture Simon Eleyae OON.
Dr. Eleyae who was a former Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Sports in Africa died recently in Benin City at the age of 96. He hailed from Uzere in Isoko South Local Government Area if Delta State.
Reacting to the death of the Doyen of Sports in Africa in a condolence message, the member representing Isoko Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon. Ukodikho, expressed sadness, noting that it was a great loss for the Isoko Nation, Delta State and the entire nation.
According to the national lawmaker, the entire continent of Africa will miss the man whose imprint in Sports cut across several spheres including athletics, coaching, sports administration, lecturing and mentoring.
“The Dr. Eleyae’s life ran a full course. He was an elder statesman in sports not only in Nigeria but in Africa, and he commendably played his role as a father figure to all African athletes.
“He was a master athlete who burst into continental limelight when he ran bare-footed to pick a silver medal for Nigeria in the 880 yards during the Ghana Athletics Championship in 1954.
“As a gifted coach and athletics genius, Dr. Elayae led many athletes from the defunct Bendel State and Nigeria to win many major athletics tournaments in the world.
“His was a peerless contribution to sports development and administration beginning as a Director of Sports in the old Bendel State, where he rose to become Chairman of the Sports Council.
“Dr Awoture Eleyae was on the saddle to ably coordinate the affairs of the Supreme Council of Sports in Africa as Secretary-General, displaying sheer ingenuity and organizational acumen”, Hon. Ukodikho recalled.
He further noted with nostalgia that “the late Dr. Awoture Eleyae was a distinguished scholar of sports at the College of Arts, Science and Technology, Zaria, now Ahmadu Bello University (ABU)”, adding that “he was one of the pioneers of sports scholarship and administration in Nigeria as he did his doctoral in Physical and Health Education with emphasis on sports administration.”
Ukodikho expressed condolences on behalf the Isoko Federal Constituency as he said:
“On behalf of the people of Isoko Federal Constituency, I express my deep condolences to the Eleyae family and the people of Uzere Kingdom on the passing on of Sir Dr Awoture Simon Eleyae.”
Meanwhile, the Athletic s Federation of Nigeria, AFN, has concluded arrangement to honour the late icon of Sports in Africa with a Relay Event that will feature a number of African country participation.
Our correspondent gathered that the event scheduled to hold in Stephen Keshi Stadium,, Asaba on July 27, 2023.
A statement from the Head Coach of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), Seigha Porbeni, disclosed that the event is being packaged to “honour the former Secretary-General of the Supreme Council for Sports in Africa (SCSA), Dr. Awoture Eleyae, who died on Friday in Benin City, Edo State.”
It further disclosed that the 4x100m relay event will witnessed the participation of teams from Nigeria, Cameroun, Niger Republic and Mali.
The AFN Coach further informed that
“Apart from about five African countries coming for the 4x100m and 4x400m relay events, we have directed all secondary schools in all the three senatorial districts of Delta State to produce three teams to compete in the 4x100m, 4x400m and mixed relays. The event is holding in Asaba instead of Warri Stadium because of renovation work going there,”
Late Awoture Eleyae, it would be recalled, had a checkered history in sports development in Africa. As an athlete, coach, teacher, lecturer and sports administrator, he carved a niche for himself. He coached and mentored the likes of Emilia Okolie, Eddie Jeyfous, Jimmy Omagbemi, George Ogan, Clarice Ahanotu, Christian Ohiri, Emilia Edet, Modupe Oshikoya, Ashanti Obi, Seigha Porbeni, Charlton Ehizuelen, Harrison Salami, Bruce Ijirigho, Aboyade Cole, Godwin Obasogie and Violet Odogwu-Nwajei, amongst several other prominent Nigerian sports men and women.
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