Eminent Nigerians and international athletes and sports administrators are expected to grace the final journey to the great beyond of the late sports icon and former Secretary-General of the Supreme Council for Sports in Africa (SCSA), Sir (Dr.) Awoture Eleyae (OON), which begins on Wednesday, November 22, 2023.
Among those expected at various programmes lined up for the burial rites include the Delta and Edo States Governors, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori and Godwin Obaseki, respectively, officials of the Delta State Sports Commission (DSSC), led by Mr. Tonobok Okowa, and their counterparts from Edo, management of Nigeria Institute of Sports (NIS), representatives of the Supreme Council for Sports in Africa (SCSA), religious and community leaders.
A statement by the family indicated that the burial rites began with a Memorial Lecture at the National Institute for Sports (NIS), National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos, on Wednesday, November 22, 2023
Also on Wednesday, November 29, 2023 the family will hold a Service of Songs (Interdenominational) at Dr. Awoture Eleyae’s family residence in Benin City, Edo State, at 4.00 pm, to be followed by a similar Service of Songs at All Saints’ Anglican Church, Off Airport Road, Benin-City, the next day, Thursday, November 30, 2023, at 4 pm.
This will be followed by a Commendation Service at All Souls’ Anglican Church, Benin City, on Friday, December 1, 2023, at 8 am before a night of tributes the same day at Awoture Eleyae’s family compound, Uzere, Isoko South Local Government Area, Delta State, beginning from 5 pm.
The funeral/commendation service will be held on Saturday, December 2, 2023, at 11.00 am at Saint Paul’s Anglican Church, Uzere, to be followed by interment at Awoture Eleyae’s Family Compound, Uzere, while a reception will take place at Lakeside Resort, Uzere, immediately after interment.
The statement added that the family will hold a thanksgiving on Sunday, December 3, 2023, at Saint Paul’s Anglican Church, Uzere.
The late Eleyae died on Thursday, July 20, 2023, in his residence in Benin City, where he has lived since retirement from active service to the Nation, Africa, and humanity. He died at the ripe age of 96.
From a humble beginning, Dr. Awoture Eleyae became a household name in sports since his Primary School days in Uzere and throughout his lifetime in Nigeria, Africa and the rest of the world. He was a multi-talented athlete in many sports, a great coach, a mentor, and an excellent sports administrator.
Dr. Awoture Eleyae joined the then National Sports Commission as Head Coach of track/field, and rose to the position of substantive Deputy Director of Sports. He acted as Director General of the Commission from February 1981 to May 1982.
He designed the Nigerian Institute for Sports and became the Institute’s pioneer Principal (Director General) from 1975 to 1984.
Dr. Eleyae, a veteran sports administrator, left his exalted position of Deputy Director General of the National Sports Commission in 1984 on secondment to his home State of Bendel (Edo/Delta) to revamp sports whose fortunes were dwindling. He served as the Director of Sports at Bendel State Sports Council from 1984 to 1986 and sole Administrator of the Sports Council from 1986 to 1990. Upon retirement, he was appointed Chairman of the then Bendel State Sports Council Board.
Dr. Awoture Eleyae brought his wealth of experience garnered over the years at the National Sports Commission to bear during his tenure and in no time, returned Bendel State to its glorious days in sports.
This sports guru also served in many other Sports positions in Bendel and at the National Sports Commission as well as Secretary General of the Supreme Council for Sports in Africa (SCSA) from 1992 to 2004.
Dr. Awoture Eleyae was married to his heartthrob, Mrs. Dorcas Eleyae, who died on January 13, 2023, and has since been buried. The marriage has six children (three boys and three girls). He is survived by five children, many grand and great grandchildren, a brother, nephews and nieces, and many other relations.
