Nigerians Celebrate Okoya-Thomas At Evening Of Tributes

The Nigerian sports family converged on Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere, Lagos to observe an epic Evening of Tributes for the late sir Chief (Dr.) Alexander Molade Okoya-Thomas.

The event was organised by the Office of Sports, Lagos State Ministry of Youth, Sports and Social Development for the late sole sponsor of Asoju Oba Senior Table Tennis Championship who died on 1 February, 2015.

The Evening presented the golden opportunity for sports stakeholders in Lagos and indeed Nigeria to pay glowing tributes to Molade Okoya-Thomas, who was a Joint All Nigeria record holder in 4 x 220 yards relay race while at Baptist Academy. Lagos.

The occasion not only drew people from Okoya-Thomas' first love; Table Tennis to the Indoor Sports Hall of the Teslim Balogun Stadium named in his honour on 8 June, 2010 by Lagos State government, but also people from other Nigerian sports were present.

Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Princess Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire in her tribute said the deceased's legacies and good works speak for him and will remain indelible in the heart of many people.

"Lagos State government, sports lovers in Nigeria will miss this great who we cannot but be celebrating today," she said.

Banji Oladapo, Executive Vice President of African Table Tennis Federation, ATTF, described Okoya-Thomas as a human monument, philanthropist and a father of all sports particularly table tennis in which he was a colossus sponsor.

The demise of the longest sponsor of table tennis in Nigeria and Africa will have far reaching effect on the youth development in Nigeria and on the continent.

Chief Jonathan Ogufere who led Association of Sports Veterans to the occasion said of the death of their Patron: "We are yet to come to term with the reality of his death.

No we have not. He was a unique Nigerian, detribalised, selfless and a born philanthropist who used God's blessings to enrich mankind." The Veterans called on the children of the deceased not to let the Asoju Oba tourney died with Molade Okoya-Thomas. "We want you to keep the love for Asoju Oba competition and other sports as did your father in his time," Ogufere said.

Former broadcaster, Fabio Lanipekun recalled that in 1968 when the Asoju Oba competition began, Egypt and Ghana were ahead of Nigeria in table tennis, "but by 1973, Nigeria overtook them and has remained invincible in Africa.

The Asoju Oba championships have been the kindergarten, nursery, primary and secondary schools and participants from 1968 have always ended up as Nigerian and African champions, men and women."

Peter Rufai, former Nigerian goalkeeper wanted Nigerians to learn a moral lesson from the life of the late Okoya-Thomas who he described as a father to many of the Super Eagles players during their days in the senior national teams.

The Evening of Tributes also witnessed speeches from ex champions of Asoju Oba tourney, players and coaches.

A short documentary that depicts the life of the late Molade Okoya-Thomas was shown to the dignitaries while choral performances from Lagos Choir added glamour to the Evening