Dr. Awoture Eleyae, OON

Profile of Sir Dr. Awoture Eleyae (OON)

Sir Dr. Awoture Eleyae (OON), a renowned African and distinguished Nigerian hailed from Uzere in Isoko South, Delta State.  He was born on the 10th of April 1927  to the family of Mr. & Mrs. David Obughe & Egbokeafe Eleyae. Sir Dr. Awoture Eleyae moved from being a fisherman to a pupil teacher, to a University Lecturer and then on to become the pioneer of the first and only Sports Training Institute in Nigeria. That is not the climax, there is more to come. 

In 1940, he commenced elementary education at the Native Authority (NA) Primary School in Uzere. Though the seed of his athletics career was planted at the NA between 1940 and 1947, it was nurtured to stardom when he gained admission into Government Teachers' Training College (GTTC), Abraka in 1951 for his Grade 2 training. He later obtained his Grade 2 (equivalent of the Senior Secondary School Certificate) in 1956. While at GTTC, the young Eleyae travelled to Warri uninvited to participate in the Provincial Athletics Competition in 1951, and the race was his first test in athletics as he finished third in the half-mile event.

Though he started as a goalkeeper, it was in athletics that he realized his dream after he ran bare-footed to pick a silver medal for Nigeria in the 880 yards (half mile) during the Ghana Athletics Championship in 1954. Two years later, Enugu hosted the All Nigerian Athletics Championship and Eleyae, who was a student at the popular GTTC, Abraka, set a national record in the 880 yards. He emerged as the regional champion from the old Western Region and the record he set in Enugu remained unbroken for five years. Now he recalled, “after that race, I was selected to represent the zone in the Western Region Athletics Championship, which took place at the Government College, Ibadan, in late 1951. I came first in the half-mile race and was picked to represent the Western Region at the National Athletics Championship held at the Police Ground in Ikoyi, Lagos. I was in college at that time”.

His most memorable moment in his athletics was in 1954, when he represented Nigeria at the Ghana Athletics Championship. When the sports rivalry between the two countries started, all attention was on the young Eleyae to salvage Nigeria's image. On the Ghana race, he said, “this is one race I won't forget in a hurry. (Of course, if he can still remember after 70 years, it is not one he will ever forget). Hear him tell his story "Few hours to the race, my principal, Mr. Soulbry brought a sports shoe for me to compete in the race. He thought he was doing me a great favour because he actually wanted me to win the race. But that was the first time I would be using sports shoe to run and it became a problem midway into the race. I was uncomfortable with it and halfway, I pulled off the shoes and continued bare-footed in the race. I lost the first position to my Ghanaian rival, Edward Nyako. But everybody was happy with my performance. May be if I had started the race on my usual bare feet, I could have possibly finished ahead of Nyako”. On return from Ghana, Eleyae got a red carpet reception. 

In 1960, he got a federal scholarship to study in Britain, which took him to three great institutions while in Britain - Loughborough College of Physical Education, Carnegie College of Physical Education, Leeds, and Jordanhill College of Physical Education (Glasgow). While in Britain, he was part of the British team that went to the Rome 1960 Olympics.  He was there to study how the Olympics games are structured and organized.  On his return in 1962, Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria employed him as a lecturer. While in Zaria, he was called by the Amateur Athletics Association (AAA) to lead the national team to Dakar Friendship Games. From August 1970 to May 1974, he obtained his Master of Science Degree in Physical, Health Education and Recreation in 1971 and his Doctorate of Philosophy in Physical Education and Sports in 1974.  After his masters degree in P.E in 1971, returned briefly home to groom athletes for the second All Africa Games in 1973, which Nigeria hosted in Lagos.

Dr. Awoture Eleyae had the rare opportunity of teaching at all levels of Education - from Kindergarten to University. He was the first African Lecturer of Physical, Health Education and Recreation in Nigeria (1961 to 1964) at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. He also served as a part-time lecturer at the University of Lagos, Nigeria. In 1964, when he returned from Tokyo Olympic Games, where he served as Nigeria’s Head Coach, thus becoming the first indigenous coach to be so employed at the National Sports Council. He resigned his appointment as a lecturer at Ahmad Bello University and became a full time Track and field Olympic Coach of Nigeria - a post he creditably held until 1975. In this capacity, he attended all the Olympic Games, the Commonwealth Games and all the All Africa Games until 1976. He has represented Nigeria in these games either as an athlete, coach or as a sports administrator since 1960.  

Sir Dr. Awoture Eleyae’s managerial expertise led to the discovery of many talents that kept Nigeria’s flag flying in all competitions. These include Emilia Edet, Violet Odogwu-Nwajei, Sam Igun, David Ejoke, Benedict Majekodumi and A.K Amun. Other athletes he discovered while working as a coach include 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, and Godwin Obasogie. He converted Violet Odogwu-Nwajei from high jump to the hurdles and long jump events. He coached Violet to the 1966 Commonwealth Games held in Jamaica, where she bagged a bronze medal in the long jump - the first female in the history of African athletics.

Soon after the 1970 Commonwealth Games, Dr. Awoture Eleyae went to the University of Illinois, Urbana Champagne for his Master of Science Degree in Physical, Health Education and Recreation in 1971 and his Doctorate of Philosophy in Physical Education and Sports (1974) thus becoming the first Nigerian to bag this prestigious degree.

Since his return from study in the United States, Dr Eleyae served as a Director of Sports from 1984 to 1986; and as a Asst. Director of Sports and Sole Administrator from 1986 to March 1990 when he voluntarily retired. Since his retirement he has served as Director of Sports for Bendel State Sports Council; National Sports Award Committee; National Sports Information Centre and as Secretary General of Supreme Council for Sports in Africa from 1992 to 2004.

He became a rallying point in Physical Education and sports profession, just as he pioneered the establishment of NAPHER-ED in the country. It was Sir Dr. Awoture Eleyae, who initiated the idea of establishing the National Institute for Sports (NIS), and was the pioneer principal. He also played a key role in Nigeria winning the Africa Cup of Nations trophy for the first time in 1980. Meanwhile, he was the architect of Nigerian athletes' scholarship programme in American universities, which benefited the likes of Oshikoya, Innocent Egbunike, Chidi Imo, Seigha Porbeni, Bruce Ijirigho, Charlton Ehizuelen, Mary Onyali and Falilat Ogunkoya, among others.

When Johannesburg hosted the seventh All Africa Games in 1999, Eleyae told reporters at the Sandton Sun Intercontinental Hotel that Nigeria would surprise the continent and the entire world. In terms of preparations and provision of facilities for the next edition of the Games (Abuja 2003), He was the Secretary General of the Supreme Council for Sports in Africa at that time. His dream came true when Nigeria dazzled the world at COJA Games, where Team Nigeria came top for the first time. And in recognition of Eleyae's contributions to African sports, the Confederation of African Athletics (CAA) named the Nigeria Grand Prix held in Warri City Stadium after him. About 61 international athletes from over 20 countries took part in that championship. In 2005, the Federal Government honoured him with the OON Award for his professional contribution to the nation. Looking back to his days as a school-boy in Uzere and Abraka, Eleyae said that grassroots sports in the country had nose-dived and that promoting sports in school is the only sure way to guarantee the future of sports in Nigeria. According to him, it will be a wise decision if schools in the states can re-enact what we used to do during our days in sports, when Children's Day (May 27) was used for sports competitions among schools. This promotion of sports particularly in Uzere will be a key trust of the Awoture and Dorcas Eleyae Foundation.

Sir. Dr. Awoture Eleyae is a member of the many professional organisations. He served as a member of the Technical Committe of the Supreme Council for Sports in Africa (SCSA) from 1976 to 1981. He was installed a Fellow of the International Society of Sports Psychologists in 1976.  In 1982, he was appointed president of UNESCO’s International Sports for the blind.

Dr. Awoture Eleyae has published many articles in International magazine. His concept of "Resource Utilization Conflict Syndrome" is an acknowledged contribution to the body of knowledge in Sports Management Theory and Practice. his sound and varied education in sports coupled with his qualifications and diversified experiences were valuable for the onerous functions of the Secretary General of the Supreme Council for Sports in Africa. 

On the 27th of September 2013, this great State of ours Delta State honored him as Sapele hosted the first Dr. Awoture Eleyae Athletics Championship. We look forward to a continuation of this championship by the current and future Governments of Delta State. 

Hmmmmm, we left the best for the last. This man simply wants to be known as a man who benefited from the grace of God through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. He is a committed Christian and dedicated to the growth of the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ through the ministry of the Anglican Church and the Full Gospel Business Men Fellowship International. 

A loving husband to his wife of over 60 years, a doting father to his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. 

A champion of champions, teacher of teachers, star athlete, start couch, erudite Doctors of sports administration, distinguished international and national technocrat and leader. Made by God, loved by God, kept by God, honored by God. And so today as we rejoice with him on this auspicious day, we give all the glory to God through His precious Son our Savior Jesus Christ. 

Psalms 72:18-20

Blessed be The LORD, The God of Israel,

who alone does wondrous things.

Blessed be His Glorious Name forever;

may the whole earth be filled with His glory! 

(May Africa, Nigeria, Delta State, Uzere be filled with His glory!)

Amen and Amen!

The prayers of David, the son of Jesse, are ended.

By Papa Eleyae's Children, Grandchildren and Great-grandchildren.