President of Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC), Habu Gumel, says the late Awoture Eleyae, former Secretary-General of the defunct Supreme Council for Sports in Africa (SCSA), left behind a remarkable legacy.
Gumel, while mourning the passing on of Eleyae in a condolence message by the NOC, said Eleyae greatly contributed to the development of sports in Nigeria and Africa as a whole.
“Eleyae dedicated his life to the pursuit of excellence in Physical and Health Education.
“He became the fourth Nigerian to earn a Ph.D in this field, further highlighting his commitment and contribution to sports education,” he said, as quoted in a statement released by Tony Nezianya, NOC’s Public Relations Officer (PRO).
The NOC President noted that Eleyae, in addition to his academic achievements, held several prestigious positions within the sports community.
“He served as the SCSA Secretary-General, where he manned the Headquarters in Cameroon and played a pivotal role in promoting and advancing sports throughout the continent.
“His exceptional leadership qualities and tireless efforts in this role have left an indelible mark on African sports,” he said.
Gumel added that Eleyae’s influence extended beyond the administrative realm as he was one of the initiators of the National Institute for Sports (NIS) and served as its first Principal.
“Under his guidance, the Institute thrived and became renowned for producing many great Nigerian sports superstars.
“His dedication to the development of young athletes has transformed countless lives and propelled Nigeria to sports excellence on the international stage.
“Dr Awoture Eleyae’s passion for health, physical education, and sports has left an indelible impact on the Nigerian sports landscape.”
He stated that Eleyae, who died at 96, was an extraordinary individual whose contributions would always be remembered.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends, and the entire sports community during this difficult time,” the NOC President said.(NAN)
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