CareerOnThursday 25th of July, 2024At TheCedi Auditorium,University of Health and Allied Sciences Ho, Volta Region, GhanaThe Vice-Chancellor The Pro-Vice-Chancellor The RegistrarThe Liberian Deans of SchoolsDirectors of Institutes Heads of DepartmentsProfessors and Members of Academic BoardFaculty and Staff of the School of Sports and Exercise Medicine Directors and Staff of Non-Teaching University Directorates Royal Majesties and HighnessesMy Lords Spiritual and TemporalPast Presidents of University of Ibadan Junior Chambers The Jaycees The President and Members of Sports Psychology Association of NigeriaThe Giwa and Members of Egbe Bobagunte Okunrin Asiwaju Akile IjebuThe President and Members of Ijebu-Ode ClubThe Executive Board and Members of Africa Sports Management AssociationPresident International Students Football UnionPatrons, Advisory Board, Ambassadors and Secretariat of Africa Students Football UnionPresident and Members of the Board of World Association for Sports ManagementPresident and Managing Director of Qatar Independent Gulf Association The Advisory Board, Board of Studies and Operations Management Team of International Sports InstituteThe Pastor and Members of Redeemed Christian Church, Shekaina Parish, HoConvener and Distinguished Members of Family United By Sports My Siblings and Managers of the Oriola-Olubisi FoundationMy Children home and in diasporaAll Omotayo and Oyefeso Descendants home and in diaspora Distinguished Members of the fourth estate of the realmMy heart is full of joy with appreciation to God Almighty as I stand before you to deliver my Exaugural Lecture which is the first in the history of the University and which makes me the first Professor of Sports Psychology to be so celebrated in Africa to signpost my retirement from the walls of the classroom after 37 years of academic career that took me to Kenya, United Kingdom, Ghana of which I have spent 20 years in universities outside Nigeria. This unique academic sojourn ends today 25th of July, 2024 a Thursday my actual Born Day. This is indeed a day appointed by our indefatigable Vice-Chancellor, Professor Lydia Aziato supported by our non-tiring Registrar Ms Yaa Amankwaa 0puni and Ordained by God Almighty.ExordiumI was born into the Abadina Community of the University of Ibadan Campus as the first son and third child in the Birth Order of Papa Oriola Richard Omotayo and Mama Olubisi Dorcas Omotayo nee Oyefeso my Parents of blessed memory.(insert picture of my parents)Though long gone, their parental love and care remains ever green in my memory and psyche. Despite all odds and vicissitudes of life my Father ensured that he saw me through School while my Mother ensured sound moral upbringing premised on socio-cultural and religion education. Except for my Secondary School education at the Christ Apostolic Grammar School, Ibadan Oyo State, Nigeria and my Higher School Certificate Education at the Federal School of Arts and Sciences, in Ogoja, Cross River State of Nigeria that took me outside of the campus of University of Ibadan during the days of my educational pursuit, I attended the Abadina Primary School in the University of Ibadan campus, and the Department of Physical and Health Education of the same University from 1980-1990 during which time I obtained my Bachelor degree in 1983, Master degree in 1985 and the Doctor of Philosophy degree in 1990. My training at the University of Ibadan socialized me into the world of academics which plateau I have reached with the delivery of this Exaugural Lecture to signpost my retirement from the classroom after 37 years of Teaching , Researching and Rendering Community Services mostly in Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana and the United Kingdom.
Aborted Attempt to Become a Military PersonnelVice-Chancellor ma, Ladies and Gentlemen after my secondary education, I wrote the qualifying examination for admission into the Nigeria Defense Academy (NDA), in my quest to fulfil my interest in becoming a Combatant professional soldier first because of the stories of the world war exploits told me byBaba Kanomy Grand Father who was a world war veteran and secondly to take after my Late Uncle Major Oladele Omotayo of blessed memory whom I used to admire each time he visited my Father during the 6thJuly, 1967 to 15th January, 1970 Nigeria Civil War of which he was an active Combatant. Had I succeeded in joining the Nigeria Army as desired at that time, I would have been long retired from the Military job and by now be calledold soldierand most likely would not have become a Professor of Sports Psychology.University Admission ProcessAfter successful completion of my two year higher school training at the Federal School of Arts and Sciences in Ogoja, Cross Rivers State of Nigeria I gained admission into the University of Ibadan, in my educational pathway. I remember that I was still trying to recover from the shock of my rejection from my first choice Bachelor of Arts degree in History when I ran into my secondary school Games Master fondly called Uncle Femi Owolabi now an Emeritus Professor of Exercise Physiology whom I met for the first time since I left the secondary school. After we exchanged pleasantries on that faithful day he listened to my experience with Professor Obaro Ikime then of the History Department, he wondered why a degree in history. He went further to remind me of my exploits in sports in my secondary school days when I became a School Athlete in Form Two to become the youngest School Athlete that participated at the Grayer Powel Inter-Secondary Schools Track and Field Meet in the then Western Region of Nigeria. He also told me that he is a Lecturer in the Department of Physical and Health Education (PHE) of the University of Ibadan and that he wished I switched my academic interest to PHE popularly called jumpology rather derogatively at that time. I was very reluctant to take his advice but had to take the advice when after checking my O` Level results, and he told me that I was well qualified to study PHE because of my A grade in biology, and that he was sure that I won`t regret if I took his advice.
OpeningVice-Chancellor and Distinguished Chairperson of this auspicious occasion, The Pro-Vice-Chancellor, The Registrar, The University Liberian, The Acting Dean, School of Sports and Exercise Medicine, the Head of Department , Faculty and Staff of the Department of Sports and Exercise Medical Sciences, My Teachers and very senior Professors, Former Sports Minister Professor Taoheed Adedoja, Erudite Geologist Professor Owolabi Ajayi, Colleague sibling Professors in the Omotayo Family, Professor Ayo Omotayo, current Director General National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies and Professor Temitope Omotayo, of Tai Solarin University of Education the First Specialized University of Education in Nigeria. My Uncle-In-Law Chief Paul Idedia, and the wife my Big sister Mrs Olusola Idedia, Trustees of the Oriola- Olubisi Omotayo Foundation, the Omotayo, Oyefeso and Obalaja families, my biological siblings, Engr. Tola Omotayo, Mrs Tosin Hameed the Florence Nightingale of the Omotayo Family and Omolabake Akanbi, All Omotayo Descendants home and in Diaspora, the Afonjas, the Hameeds, the Akanbis and the Alakas,great Abadinaites, The President and entire Members of the Sports Psychology Association of Nigeria (SPAN), Members of Africa Sports Management Association (ASMA), The National President and Members of Ibadan Christ Apostolic Grammar School Old Boys Association, The Governor and Members of the 1976 set at C.A.C Grammer School particularly Senior Advocate of Nigeria Barrister Abidemi Oyesanya, My mates at the Federal School of Arts and Science, University mates, my past Students, Mine and my revered ever green life Mentor Baba Tunde Oshobi,The Past Presidents and the entire Membership of the University of Ibadan Junior Chambers the Unibadan Jaycees, my first boss in life, Chief Seigha Porbeni, My Giwa, SamonsaguduDr, Niyi Osoba, Otun Giwa Hon. Segun Adekoya, Eta Giwa and Asiwaju Lekan Teriba, Members of the Council of Chiefs, The Executives and entire Members of Egbe Bobagunte Okunrin, Asiwaju Akile Ijebu, The President and Members of Ijebu-Ode Club, The Lord Sherif, Olu Akewusola Corner of Ijebu-Ode Club, Professor James O.S Banjo, the Iyalode of Ijebu-Ode Club Alhaja O Ajigbotesho, Olori Ebi, Mr David Sobande FCA, and all Omo Ebi, The Convener and all Members of the Family United By Sports (FUBS), Patrons, Vice President, Ambassadors and Executive Secretary, Africa Students Football Union (ASFU), Members of the Advisory Board, The Board of Studies and the entire Operations Team of International Sports Institute (ISI), I tell you all that indeed, theNO REGRETSlast words of assurance by Uncle Femi now Professor Emeritus Femi Owolabi who was my secondary school Games Master on that faithful day convinced me and changed the trajectory of my thoughts. This set me on my academic path which reached a glorious crescendo that we are celebrating today Thursday, 25thJuly, 2024. Down memory lane though there were challenges which by the grace of God almighty were surmounted, I have not had any significant regrets since I received my very first lecture in Anatomy and Physiology as a Physical and Health Education Student which coincidentally was delivered Forty- Four (44) years ago by the same Uncle Femi Owolabi now an Emeritus Professor of Exercise Physiology.Experiences at University of IbadanI am very lucky to have attended the University of Ibadan, Nigeria Premier University where I had the opportunity to be trained by the best Academics in this academic discipline of Human Movement Science studies. I still vividly remember the coaching points pedagogy delivered by Professor Yomi Awosika that showed that the height of the Hockey stick for optimum performance must be equal to the upper trochanter of the human femur and the direction of the cricket ball in the execution of the batting technique is dictated by the direction of the elbow and the other various theories of Competitive Sports management.Professor Veronica Igbanugo made the class understand tests batteries of physical fitness and Nutrition in Sports. While Professor Lateef Amusa of blessed memory made the class know that the major indicator of cardiovascular efficiency is the ability to use up oxygen and made me understand the various equations, quantitative techniques, various tools in the measurements of the workings of vital body organs and management of same for optimum performances in life daily routine activities and particularly elite sports performances.Professor Femi Owolabi apart from teaching us Anatomy and Physiology, also ensured that we understood the role of Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP) in muscular contraction and the working muscles in the execution of sports skills in the Exercise Physiology and Biomechanics courses. Professor Elizabeth Nwankwo thought the Scientific Foundations of Physical Education and Sports. Late Professor Ademola Adedeji the first Professor of Physical Education in Nigeria delivered his Inaugural Lecture that hinged on Growth as distinct from Development in Child Motor Skills acquisition and how this affects Nation Building and Professor Chris Udoh gave an Inaugural Lecture titled The Collage that is Health Education,Professor A. S, Sohi introduced the concepts of Motor Learning in sports skills acquisition, psychometric techniques and Psychology of Sports and Coaching as well as the role of Epinephrine and Nor-Epinephrine in shaping flight or fight behavior responses to a given sports competition situation. In all of these and with respect to all my Teacher Professors I am a student ofSohiwho supervised the project that earned me my first degree in 1983, the dissertation that earned me my Master degree in 1985 and my Doctoral Thesis that earned me the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in 1990 with specialization in Sports Psychology.Home Teachers in Statistical MethodsI should mention that while in the Postgraduate School, my Cousin now Dr. Adenekan Oyefeso a Clinical Psychologist and blood younger brother, Professor Ayo Omotayo a Geographer both Postgraduate Students with me then were my special Home Teachers in Statistical Methods. Their explanations simplified most topics in statistics which assisted me to become a master in the use of the variou statistical methods in Research. With their extra coaching, not only did I pass the course Statistical Method satisfactorily I was also able to personally manually compute data collected for my Master’s Degree research work and scored an A grade in the Dissertation titledEffects of Gender and Sex on Motor \ Performances.I had since, and still always been praying that both of them ever continue to progress in their academic careers and live endeavours. The good Lord has consistently granted these my supplications to the extent that Adenekan Oyefeso is today a Charted Psychologist and a Professor of Addictive Behaviour Management practicing in the United Kingdom and Ayo Omotayo is a Professor at the Geography Department of Lagos State University, Nigeria and the Director-General of Nigeria`s foremost Manpower Training Institute the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS).Professor Amarith Singh Sohi lives on in my PsycheIn 1983, after the last practical assessments for final year students in Track and Field Athletics events conducted by Professor then Dr. Amarith Singh Sohi he called me aside from among my mates and counseled me on postgraduate studies and that he and other Academic Staff in the Department expected me to return for postgraduate studies in the Department and that he personally wished I return to study Social Psychology of Sports instead of Exercise Physiology which was trending at that time.I must confess that I only had him out on that faithful day and thereafter proceeded for the mandatory National Youth Service Programmes where I served in Dokko Village which may be a town now in Niger State of Nigeria. While on the National Service I applied for postgraduate studies in Exercise Physiology for which I was offered admission.Little did I know that Professor A.Singh Sohi had discussed his desire with Professor Lateef Amusa who rather than register me for Exercise Physiology courses which was my choice, registered me for courses in Sociology and Psychology of Sports. I protested and hinged my protest on the fact that I scored A grades in Anatomy and Physiology, Exercise Physiology, Motor Learning and Psychology of Coaching courses among other As. He was not persuaded and he simply told me that Sohi wants you in psychology. In those days little can one argue with Lecturers so I dropped my protest and agreed reluctantly.Vice-Chancellor Ma, Ladies and Gentlemen, this set the tone for my academic activities in the area of sports psychology for which I earned the Master Degree in Social-Psychology of Sports in 1985 and the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D) degree of the University of Ibadan in Sports Psychology on 5thDecember, in the year 1990. I am proud of all my Lecturers in the Department of Physical and Health Education, University of Ibadan but am indeed a student of Professor A, Singh Sohi given that I went through his tutelage during which time, I drank from his ever- springing fountain of knowledge in the academic discipline of Sports Psychology until his sudden death in November of 1998. Though he passed on 26 Years ago I have not used the word LATE as a prefix to his name because he is still very much alive in me as a consummate Sports Management Scientist with Sports and Exercise Psychology specialty till date. He was an erudite Scholar who was everything to me in the subject matter of sports psychology. May his gentle soul continue to rest in perfect peace. I humbly request us all to observe a minute silence in honour and memory of this highly cerebral human Being. (ALL SHALL OBSERVE THE ONE MINUTE SILENCE)Sports Psychology as an Academic Discipline.The multi-faceted nature of the academic discipline makes it difficult to be encapsulated a definition given the fact that the academic discipline is very dynamic. I have therefore not defined Sports Psychology in this Lecture but rather simply delimited myself to explanations within the ambit of functions and competencies of the Sports Psychology Professional academic discipline. Sport psychology is a competency based academic discipline whereby trained professionals apply psychological factors and variable manipulative skills to constantly make sports men and women perform optimally and promote Exercise Adherence in the non-pharmaceutical management of life style or occupationally induced ailments. It also involves social and cultural processes of sports participation, as well as management of systemic issues in the sports ecosystem. Sports Psychology is not a substitute to adequate sports coaching programmes, but it is an important element in making athletes brings out their best in the exhibition of acquired sports skills. It gives the athletes the competitive edge with which to excel other athletes by making athletes perform in their psychological moments. The Sports Psychologist does not look at the forest but rather focus the trees of the forest in the sports ecosystem.Apart from the Athletes, Sport Psychologists also manage Sports Significant Others (SSOs) like Sports Coaches, the Parents or Guardian of Athletes, Athletes Managers, Administrators, Athletes Peers, Government Officials and Sports Journalists among other critical stakeholders in Athletes psychological management. The benefits of psychological services to critical Stakeholders, Athletes and Sports Coaches particularly include but not limited to the followingDevelopment of Confidence and desensitization of distractionsImproved focus of attention to task relevant activitiesDevelopment of coping skills to deal with Mental Technical ErrorsManagement of Competition Anxiety and ArousalAdequate display of Instrumental Aggression in sports competitionsMotivational skills developmentGoals settingManagement of Athletes SuccessesManagement of Athletes RetirementManagement Coach-Leader BehaviourFacilitation of Upward Social MobilityHistory has it that as far back as 1898, Norman Triplett, a Psychologist from Indiana University, was reported to have carried outElements of social facilitation study on Cyclists athletic performance, however, Coleman Griffith who created and developed the first Sport Psychology Laboratory at the University of Illinois in 1925 is regarded as the Father of Sports Psychology. I leave the order of precedence of this two known icons in sports psychology to individual’s preference for chronology or infrastructure. The academic discipline of sports psychology is premised substantially on four theories namely the Trait/ State Theory, Situational and Interactional Theories as well as the Drive TheoryThe Sports Psychology Association of Nigeria (SPAN)In Nigeria, the emergence of the discipline gained grounds when Universities including University of Ibadan started training specialists in the academic discipline. It is on record however, that the foundation of an association for Sports Psychologists in Nigeria was laid by late Professors Philomena Ikulayo, of University of Lagos, Professor A.S Sohi, of University of Ibadan, Dr. Ben Ogundari of University of Ife now Obafemi Awolowo University and Professor Taoheed Adedoja of the University of Maiduguri. I am happy to state that though just a Postgraduate Student, I was at that meeting at the National Institute for Sports in Lagos Nigeria where and when the Sports Psychology Association of Nigeria (SPAN) was formed in 1986.The Association was then one of the listed Associations under the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports and the Association rendered psychological services to National sports teams and contingents. Apart from being posted to the Track & Field Athletics Team of Nigeria then preparing for the All Africa Games Held in Nairobi Kenya and later the U20 National Team the Flying Eagles then preparing for the FIFA Tournament in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia by the Association in 1987, I served the Association as the second National President after Late Professor Philomena Ikulayo the Foundation President. During my Presidency a Professional Membership Register was established and the first SPAN Registrar in the person of then Dr. now Professor Andrew Fadoju was appointed and this signpost the beginning of the processes for professionalization of sports psychology practice in Nigeria. It is indeed heartwarming to see the process progressed by the SPAN Presidency of Professor Olanrewaju Ipinmoroti that has registered SPAN as a body corporate and also set up the Board of Trustees (BoT) of Which I am the Current Chairman.
Vice-Chancellor Ma, Ladies and Gentlemen, I am delighted to inform this august gathering that my Sports Psychology based published research works in national and international peer reviewed academic journals made me rise meritoriously to professorial rank and was appointed a Professor of Sports Psychology in Kenyatta University in Nairobi, Kenya in the year 2002 making me the very first in East Africa and indeed thefirst Nigerian and Ijebu son to be so elevated.Academic Research ActivitiesMy research activities saw me work extensively with my Academic Mentor Professor A, Singh Sohi. Both of us worked on various psychological performance optimization factors in Sports. These factors are anxiety, motivation, psyching, Levels of aspiration, Socio-economic indices, Visions Conditions, Frequency and impact of Laughing and Personality Traits/State among others in Sports performances. Majority of these factors were studied in relation to Motor performances in Accuracy, Balance, Speed, Maneuverability, Reaction Time, Concentration Ability and Mental Technical Errors. In fact, research has shown that Sports men and women should laugh more to keep Mental Technical Errors low so as to excel in sports competitions.At the early stages of research activities, the Raison d`etre for Professor A.Singh Sohi and myself concentration of our research interest on the influence of psychological factors on motor activities is because of their strategic and fundamental importance to basic human movement and sports skills acquisition for optimum performances in sports and other physical activities. It should be understood that motor fitness parameters are the neuromuscular skills-related fitness activities that constitute the veritable precursors to sports skills development and optimum sports competition performances. They include accuracy, agility, coordination,
speed, strength, reaction time and balance all of which enables athletes to perform complex sports techniques optimally.It may interest this distinguished audience that most individuals are deficient in these neuromuscular skills-related motor activities and this is manifested in poor performance of basics of walking, hand-eye coordination, throwing, and catching skills which has implication on running and jumping movement skills.The development of these neuromuscular psycho-motor fitness is enshrined in the three basic phases ofsports skills acquisition namely, the cognitive, fixation and the automyzation phases.Each phase is facilitated by the motivational roles of Significant Others(SOs) who formally or informally contribute to training at each of the phases of motor skills acquisition by managing motivation, goals and setting levels of aspiration , instrumental aggression and anxiety to mention a few of the psychological factors that influence acquisition of these fundamental psycho-motor skills that are required for optimum athletic performances across all sports and games including prescribed Exercises which is now Medicine.Study of AnxietyThe study on Anxiety in 1989 was quasi-experimental in which selected athletes who were categorized by gender and anxiety levels took part in prescribed accuracy and balance motor activities and the outcome showed that anxiety levels affected the two motor activities irrespective of gender except that females exhibited better performance in balance motor performance while the males exhibited better accuracy motor performance. This finding has implication on coaching points for Sports Coaches when training athletes in such sports and games requiring high degree of accuracy and balance for optimum performance.
Nature of IncentivesIn the same 1989, I worked with Professor Amarith Singh Sohi to investigate the nature of incentives and motor performances and found rather interestingly that athletes preferred non-monetary low depleting incentives as awards and rewards following optimum motor performance. The implication of this finding is that Government should be guided in reaching decisions on issues of awards and rewards given to sportsmen and women following outstanding performances at such sporting events like National and International sports competitions.Professionalism and Fair Play AttitudesIn 1990, the relationships of professionalism and fair play attitudes to performance in sports was investigated in a case study of University Athletes and found a negative correlation.This result showed that fair play attitudes have no place in sports professionalism as the participants in the case study rated hostile aggression above instrumental aggression.Majority of the athletes in the case study were indifferent to use of ergogenic aids irrespective of the status of the ergogenic aid. This has implication on sports and games officiating and regulations on unwholesome practices like blood doping and use of banned substances as regulated by the World Anti-Doping Agency which are now being domesticated by most countries of the world.
Personality Traits and Positional Evaluation of Soccer PlayersIn 1990, Professor Amarith Singh Sohi prompted me to investigate the Positional Evaluation of Personality Traits of Junior Soccer Players using the Cattell 16PF Questionnaire after subjecting the Questionnaire to cultural loading assessment. The outcome of the study which was presented at the first Scientific Congress on Soccer in Nigeria, organized by the Nigeria Association of Sports Science and Medicine, held at the University of Ibadan showed that the personality traits of the Junior Soccer Players were significantly different along roles on the field of play in Q1- open to change, Q3 perfectionism, Tough-Mindedness, Anxiety and Self -control. The research showed that while Soccer Players in defensive role of the study exhibited Tough-Mindedness, Players in offensive role exhibited State Competition Anxiety (SCA). While the Players in defensive, offensive and goalkeeping roles exhibited Q1 Open to change trait. Those in goalkeeping role clearly exhibited Q3 perfectionism trait. A related study that involved Basketball, Handball, and Soccer and Volleyball players conducted in the same year showed soccer players among other team sports players exhibited low scholastic mental capacity. This finding is indicative of specificity of role behaviour which has implications on coaching management.Particularly, Soccer Coaches needs to increase frequency of tactical training given the exhibition of low Scholastic mental capacity exhibited by the soccer players in the study, it goes to show the need for psychological profiling of soccer players and by extension all sportsmen and women for purpose of preventing a wild goose chase in the management of Athletes Psychology for optimum performances for podium appearances as Sports Psychology seeks to know not just the forest but the Trees in the Forest.
Gender Factor in Female SoccerIt was at this same first Scientific Congress on Soccer that the result on the study ofGender Based Attitude to Female Soccerwas disseminated. The report showed that the Female gender exhibited negative attitude to female soccer while the opposite is the case with regards to the male gender. The result of the study led to a Behaviour Modification campaign among Football Players in Nigeria. In the world today, female soccer has developed and Nigeria dominates at the Africa Level having won the Africa Women Championship eleven times since inception in 1998 of the fourteen editions of the Championship. Two other Countries that won the Competition when Nigeria did not win are Equatorial Guinea and South Africa. It is also on record that the Nigeria Female Soccer team qualified for all the eight editions of the FIFA female World Cup Competitions.Female gender-based attitude may have changed now but no known other such study to my knowledge has been conducted in Nigeria or in Africa to interrogate other variables that are important in promoting interest of Females in Football.Until another research on gender-based variable is conducted, the changes shall remain at the level of competitions and performances, and other gender-based attitude variables like cultural believes, Significant Others, Female/Male gender acceptance etc remain mere observations.Post Professor Amarith. Singh Sohi Research ActivitiesAfter the sudden and shocking demise of my mentor in the field of Sports Psychology, unlike Liverpool football club I found myself walking alone. This saw me work on other psychological and sociological factors in sports without a Mentor or Research Associate. At this time, from 1998, my work centered more on soccer covering several factors implicated in optimum performances and in some cases emotional health issues.
Personality attributes of Soccer CoachesA study was conducted on the Personality attributes of Soccer Coaches and it was found that majority of Nigeria soccer Coaches were repulsive to scientific approach to coaching particularly the need to spice coaching schedules with mental imagery programmes. It must be explained however, that the finding showed that soccer Players turned Coaches showed more of this repulsiveness as against trained certificated Coaches. As no one can be taller than the roof of his/her house It is therefore instructive not to promote retired soccer coaches beyond their Peters Plato. They must be certified.All soccer Coaches and by extension all Sports Coaches should be certificated following prescribed training programme so as to eliminate quackery in the Coaching Profession.Coach-Leader BehaviourThe Expected Coach-Leader Behaviour in the handling of athletes in the 1996 Atlanta Olympic games was investigated using the Leadership Scale for Sports developed by P. Chelladurai and S,D Salleh.The outcome of the investigation informed the professional advice that exhibition of Coach-Leader Democratic, Autocratic, Social Support and Positive feedback behaviours should be situational. However, the Training and Instructions behaviour should be sacrosanct.
he Home Advantage Phenomenon in the Game of SoccerThe Home Advantage Factor in the Goal Scoring Ability of Soccer Players was studied and it showed that offensive players scored more goals at Home game matches than in away game matches.This finding which was based on match results could not be attributed to any factor on the part of the Teams other than the must win at home at all cost attitude.Furthermore, a study onAggressive Behaviour in the Nigeria National Leagueshowed that in the Year Shooting Stars FC were relegated for the first time, was the year that the Players of the team received the least number of bookings regarding issuance of Yellow/Red Cards in home matches in the football League.The implication is that high exhibition of Instrumental Aggressive behaviour most times in competitive situations may be disruptive of the winning mentality.Study of the Burnout SyndromeThe investigation into the Burnout Syndrome among successful (Matches Won) and unsuccessful (Matches Lost) Soccer Coaches, showed no significant difference in both circumstances. Win or lose Soccer Coaches exhibit burnout symptoms. This showed that all Soccer Coaches stand the risk of the emotional mental health consequences of the burnout syndrome which include irritability, depersonalization, loss of concentration, forgetfulness, mental health problems, high blood pressure that may lead to mild paralysis or stroke.By inference, Sports Coaches therefore need psychotherapy irrespective of overall outcomes of a soccer match or competitions.Overt Behaviour in FootballHooliganism and Vandalism were very prevalent in sports and was particularly rampart in soccer games. The social learning theory of Albert Bandura was heavily manifested so is the contagion theory of crowd behaviour in which individuals are predisposed to learn behaviours particularly aggressive behaviour of hostile nature. Concerned stakeholders namely the Sports Psychology Association of Nigeria (SPAN), National Sports Institute (NIS) and the then Nigeria Football Association (NFA) organized seminars, workshops on the ugly phenomenon of Hooliganism and vandalism. During these workshops and seminars that were mounted within this period of 1987 to 2008, Experts proffered solutions which unfortunately were not considered for trial implementation. During this period I investigated thePerception of Soccer Players on the Appropriateness of Identified Solutions to Soccer Game Hooliganism and Vandalism.The identified solutions included among othersLong suspension of the aggressor team,Heavy finesPayment of Restitution in cases of vandalism,Banishment to another stadiumPlaying in empty stadium.The study outcome showed that while the selected soccer players endorsed all other identified solution, a significant proportion rejected the option of playing in an empty stadium.This showed the importance of the Spectators to the players hence, the option of making aggressor teams to play in empty stadium was adjudged the most appropriate solution in the management of soccer hooliganism and vandalism.
Research Interests at Kenyatta University, Nairobi Kenya.In the year 2002, my sojourn in academics took me to Kenyatta University as a Professor of Sports Psychology in the Universities Institute of Kinesiology which was later developed into a Department of Sports Kinesiology and Sports Technology. My research interest at the Kenyatta University focused mainly on Athletes retirement issues, the mtDNA haplotype and the endurance capacity of Kenya Athletes that make Kenyans dominate the long-distance track, road races and the marathon event that derived its name from the distance of 42,195 kilometers covered by Greek soldier Pheidippides from the site of the battle of Marathon to Athens, to report a military conquest of the Persian Army by Greek Army in 490 BC.Athletes Retirement IssuesI was also privileged to have served on a University Gerontology Study Committee on the issues of old age and retirement. The fallout of my membership of the committee saw me participate at several seminars where issues of old age and retirement were focused. In the Committee, old age was only chronologically defined as individuals that have reached the diamond age of sixty (60) years and up to sixty-five (65) years. According to Carl Jung, old age is 60 years plus when he postulated the theory of inevitability of retirement and death. The Committee defined retirement as enshrined in extent laws that prescribed retirement age along chronological ages of 60, 65 or 70 years depending on if the individuals are Civil Servants, Academics or Military, Medics and Para-Military personnel. Clearly, old age and retirement in Sports does not lend itself only to chronological ageing.Analysis of Ageing in SportsThis therefore brought to the front burner studies on gerontology social welfare on sports ageing and retirement because of the nature of the phenomenon as it concerns the Sports man and Woman. Research has shown that Sports Men and Women slide into retirement in Force Majeure situations. Factors implicated in Athletes retirement includeChronic injury,Dynamics and vagaries of sport competitions and theEmergence of better performing and or younger athletes among others.My analysis of the issue of Ageing and Retirement in sports which was presented at the Istanbul, Turkey ICHPER.SD Anniversary World Congress in 2005 earned me the World Organizations Outstanding Sports Leadership Award. I am to humbly mention that this made me the first African Sports Scientist to win the Award.Managing Athletes in RetirementThis reality is indicative of the uniqueness of the sportsmen and women on issues of old age and retirement. This informed my initiative of the first Conference on Athletes Old Age and Retirement which was organized by the Falilat Ogunkoya Sports Foundation in the year 2009. It also motivated my presentation at the Scientific Congress of the Eko 2012 National Sports Festival. The content and recommendations of that Presentation titledManaging Athletes in Retirementwhich included the call for the establishment of Athletes Welfare Network (AWN) remains relevant and still begging for implementation in the Africa Sports ecosystem. It is strategically imperative for the proposed Athletes Welfare Scheme to come on stream without further delay for the good of retired sportsmen and women.
Participation in Kenyans Athletes Endurance Capacity Research The East Africans and particularly Kenyans dominate the long-distance track and road races not only in Africa but in the world of Athletics. The research took the team to the Nandi county the natural home of the Kalenjin people where most of these runners’ hail from in the Republic of Kenya. Kids in this community cover on daily school days between eight(08) and ten (10) kilometers running to and from school. This may be due to genetic component and high-altitude environmental factors. Critical details as to dominant muscle fiber type, nutrition and somatotype which cannot be fully explained in this lecture are factors that are also implicated in explanation of the endurance capacity of Kenyan Athletes.The mtDNA haplotypes influence on the endurance capacity of Kenyan Runners was established in the research that was spearheaded by Professor of Sports Science Yannis Pitsiladis then of Glasgow University, Scotland, and now of University of Brighton, Myself and Vincent Onywera then a Ph,D candidate who has grown to become Professor of Physical Activities at Kenyatta University in Nairobi, Kenya and currently the Deputy Vice-Chancellor of KCA University in Nairobi , Kenya. (Insert pictures of Prof. Yannis Pistiladis and Vincent Onywera)
State of Research and Capacity Development Activities in SportsIt is instructive to mention that as one of the Lead-up activities in the run up to the Gateway Games2006, held in Ogun State which I articulated, a workshop on Sports Coaching Science which was funded by the Ogun State Government was mounted for all Nigeria Coaches and was facilitated by myself and the same Professor Yannis Pitsiladis in Abeokuta, Ogun State Nigeria.It is constantly disheartening to me till date, that what was to be the positive fallout of the Workshop for Nigeria did not enjoy the recommended follow-up by the management of National Institute of Sports in Nigeria at that time which was to be the designated center for the replication of the mtDNA haplotype research but with focus on Sprint and Sprint Endurance track events for athletes across ECOWAS countries. This plays up the state of research and development in matters of scientific management of the growth and development of Sports men and Women in Africa. It is therefore advocated that R&D on athletes’ success indicators be stepped up to ensure training appropriateness and coaching effectiveness. The objective is to infuse science and technology in the coaching process with a view to making athletes to be specifically fit at the physical-physiological and psychological fitness level so as to optimally exhibit technics and tactics of the given sports and or game and for athletes to perform in their psychological moments.
Creativity in the Science of Sports CoachingImmediately after the successful completion of my second degree with specialization in Psychology of Sports, I got employed as a Sports Coach at the University of Ibadan Sports Council in April of 1986 though I never wished to be a Sports Coach. Despite the situation that I found myselfat that time, I gathered myself together and made up my mind to make the best of the situation. It is however important to mention that the period of 1986-1987 was made not only exciting but equally educative by my first boss in life Coach Seigha Porbeni who is unarguably the best Track and Field Coach in Nigeria if not in Africa.First Athlete to win six (06) Gold Medals in One Athletics MEET Caroline Nwajei is the first Known Athlete to win six (06) Gold Medals in One Athletics MEET a fit that was the result of creativity experiment in Coaching Science which Coach Seigha Porbeni involved me as a Coach Sports Psychologist in 1986. I remember questioning him on why the training workout of one of our female Athletes Caroline Nwajei was so heavy. The quick response was that he targets six gold medals from her alone in the Athletics event of the 1986 Nigeria Universities Games Association (NUGA) Games. This response of my Boss Coach Seigh Porbeni in Sports Psychology parlance is enshrined in Levels of Aspiration and Goals Setting using the SMART Model of specificity, measurability, achievability, relevance and Timing. According to him Sports Coaches should be innovative and creative. He asked me to concentrate on the deployment of psychological services to compliment the heavy training walkouts prescribed and adequate Nutrition he was sure that she will compete and win gold medals in the 100, 200-meter events, the 4x100 and 4x400 relays, the long and High Jump events. The experiment yielded the six medals for University of Ibadan at the 1986 NUGA Games. It is on record that the Athlete won the six gold medals at
the 1986 NUGA Games. This was indeed a milestone breakthrough in Track and Field Athletics events because the Athlete turned out to become the first Athlete to have won six gold medals in a single Athletics Meet in history. I am proud to be part of that achievement and coaching creativity having played my role as a Sports Psychologist. It is on record that of the over 42 gold medals that University of Ibadan won to win the NUGA of 1986, the Track and Field Team contributed 26 gold medals as other coaching initiatives yielded positive results.Replication of the Coaching Creativity ExperimentIn 1987, Coach Seigha Probeni took me along with him to the national camp during preparation of the 1987 All African Games held in Nairobi Kenya. That was a fulfilling and enriching experience which afforded me the opportunity to render psychological services to needy Elite Track and Field Athletes majority of whom were from the United States of America. This creativity enacted by Coach Seigha Porbeni and my inputs under his supervision sign posts the beginning of the strategic tactical deployment of speed 100 meters track athletes to the 4x400 speed endurance event. The tactics worked well for Nigeria at the 1987 All Africa Games held at the Arap Moi Stadium, Kasarani in Nairobi Kenya where Coach Seigha Porbeni deployed same strategy to win the 4x400 relay races at the Games. In fact, the optimum performance of the male 4x400 relay team made the President of Kenya, (now late) Daniel Arap Moi to comment that Nigerians Innocent Egbunike is not Innocent in the manner that he anchored the last leg of the race and Nigeria picked the Gold medal in an event that was the preserve of the Kenyan Relay Quartet. The sterling performance of the Nigeria Track and Field Team at the Games earned me theSpecial Recognition Awardof the then Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports in Nigeria.
Academic Experiences at the Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU) and Change of Department`s NameAfter attending an Interview chaired by the then Vice-Chancellor Late Professor Olubi Sodipo the erudite Philosopher Vice-Chancellor, with Late Professor Tinuola Oduyale as a member, I was appointed as an Assistant Lecturer and gladly resumed on the 2ndof October 1987. I handled many courses during my 16 years at the University during which time I obtained the coveted Ph.D degree. While in Ogun State University, now Olabisi Onabanjo University Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State, Nigeria, I was Sub-Dean of the Faculty of Education, Head of the department of Sports Science and Health Education, and also the Coordinator of the Faculty of Education Sandwich programme and the Postgraduate Diploma in Education programmes in the University Institute of Education. It is remarkable to mention that the appointment as Head of Department afforded me the opportunity to realize my dream of changing the name of the department from Physical and Health Education to a more appropriate value-added name that better represents all the various prescribed courses and experiences that students are milled through to earn the hitherto degree in Physical and Health Education.With the support of the then Vice-Chancellor, Late Professor Yinusa Oyeneye, I processed the change of name toSports Science and Health Education in 1998. The fallout of this my initiative of change of name of the department was the increase in students` enrolment. It is necessary to point out that other such departments in Nigeria took after the OOU initiative by effecting change of name but using Human Kinetics rather than Sports Science. My initiative made OOU blaze the trail in the matter of the appropriate nomenclature for the Sports Science academic discipline. I use this unique opportunity to call on such academic units to drop Human Kinetics and adopt the more embracing name Sports andrcise Medical Sciences particularly that the World Health Organization (WHO) has classified Exercise as Medicine.Academic Experiences at the University of Health and Allied Sciences and Establishment of the School of Sports and Exercise Medicine.Vice-Chancellor ma, I am delighted that the University of Health and Allied Sciences gave me the opportunity to deploy my understanding of subject matter of Sports and Exercise Science to draw up the curriculum that led to the establishment of the School of Sports and Exercise Medicine which is captured in the Act that established the University of Health and Allied Sciences an innovation in the establishment of tertiary institutions which I recommend to other Africa countries. I am happy to state that the School of Sports and Exercise Medicine with four Departments namely Department of Sports Nutrition, Department of Sports Psychology and Rehabilitation, Department of Sports Marketing and Management and Department of Sports and Exercise Medical Sciences which took off in 2019 with just thirteen (13) Students have grown to ninety-six (96) Students in the only functioning department and the thirteen (13) Students first cohort are already being very much sought after in the Sports Science job market. Kudos to the UHAS hands on approach to curriculum implementation.Sports for DevelopmentThe United Nations by Member Nations Resolution 55/2 of September of year 2000 no doubt appreciates the potency of sports as a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) for peace promotion and Human Capital development. According to Ingrid (2008), since the appointment of the first Special Adviser to the United Nations Secretary-General on Sport for Development and Peace in 2001, the United Nations has promoted sport as a cost-effective tool to accelerate the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals and peace promotion in the world.In that Resolution, the UN Secretary- General enjoined Member States to observe the Olympic Truce, individually and collectively, now and in the future, and to support the International Olympic Committee in its efforts to promote peace and Human Capital Development (HCD) through sports and Olympic ideals. UNESCO had since 1978 declared Physical Education and Sports a Fundamental Human Right. The United Nations Secretary General, Mr. Ban Kii-Moon, at a high-level event entitled "United Action Towards Sustainable Development for All Through Sport” urged Member Nations to use sport for peace and development of citizens of the global Comity.Sports Development is concerned majorly with providing opportunities for people of all ages, gender and ability to participate in sports at a level that is appropriate to their ability – from infancy cognitive to automyzation state of elitism and formulation into becoming world class sportsmen/women. Sports development is about creating systematic pathways and setting up functional structures that support Athletes to get started, keep going, get better and be the best.According to Collins (1995) sport development is 'a process whereby effective opportunities, processes, systems and structures are set up to enable and encourage people in all or particular groups and areas to take part in sport and recreation or to improve their performances. Sports elopment and Sports for Development are not mutually exclusive as they are not incompatible or conflicting rather, they are complementary. Sport for Development is therefore about the exploration of the power of sports to bring about desired positive turn around in the lives of people and communities. Sports have the power to inspire, engage and unite the Youths in particular in the spirit of Men Sana Corpore Sano.According to Nelson Mandela, Sport has the power to change the world. It has the power to inspire. It has the power to unite people in a way that little else does. It speaks to youth in a language they understand. Sport can create hope where once there was only despair. It is more powerful than government in breaking down racial barriers. It laughs in the face of all kinds of discrimination.” ( Insert of Nelson Mandela)“There are costs and risks to a programme of action, but they are far less than the long-range risks and cost of comfortable inaction” - JFK There is the need therefore for a paradigm shift in the way sports development is programmed. Sports development should be structured, for the sports industry to be better positioned to contribute to Socio- economic growth and Human capacity development. This is the raison d’etre for a shift of emphasis to Sports-for-Development. Sports-for- Development is about managing sports in a way that it serves as means to an end, whereby making sports positively impactful on education and employability, health and general well-being, crime reduction and mitigation of anti-social behaviour, promoting community integration, fighting inequality and engendering upward social mobility of participants. Sports-for-Development template should drive Sustainable Sports Development (SSD). Examples of Sports-for-Development Programmes in the World can be found in Rwanda, Georgia, Columbia, Turkey, and Zimbabwe for purpose of deploying Sports for Peace and Reconciliation programmes.
Leadership and Community ServicesI started occupying Leadership Positions from my primary school days. I was appointed the School Genitor in my final year at the Abadina Primary School University of Ibadan, I was House Captain of Oniyere House at the Christ Apostolic Grammer School, Ibadan, Oyo State Nigeria in my Secondary School days, appointed Head of my Hall at the Federal School of Arts and Sciences while studying for Higher School Certificate, I was Athletics Captain at University of Ibadan Nigeria Premier University. I have in the last 37 years taken up appointments and have been involved in organizations that develop leadership skills through engagements in Community Services. One of such organizations is the Nigeria Junior Chambers University of Ibadan Chapter affiliated to Junior Chambers International with Headquarters in Coral Gables in the United States of America where I served at different times as Director of Projects, Lom President, National Secretary-General and serving for life as a distinguished Junior Chamber International (JCI) Senator.Professional Experiences at the National Commission of Colleges of Education (NCCE)In 1992, and on the strong recommendation of Professor Taoheed Adedoja a former Provost of the Federal College of Education (Special) Oyo and also former Sports Minister to Professor Kabiru Ishaku then Director of Academic Planning, Evaluation and Accreditation i was appointed a Programmes Officer at the National Commission of Colleges of Education (NCCE) for the accreditation exercise of all Colleges of Education in Nigeria. I was privileged to have worked under Professor Peter Lassa, the Executive Secretary a renowned Professor of Mathematics Education. During this time, I was on fifty-six (56) Accreditation panels and made me travel wide across Nigeria to many towns other than State capitals in Nigeria as majority of Colleges of Education are located outside of State capitals. This made me boost that I have stayed minimum five days in all states in Nigeria because of the spread and locations of Colleges of Education in Nigeria.Coincidentally, I served on the Panels that accredited Ogun State College of Education now Tai Solarin College of Education at Ijagun now in Omu Ijebu and the Lagos State College of Primary Education Noforija Epe. The high point of the accreditation exercise was that the Ogun State College of Education was the only State-owned College of Education recommended among other five colleges of Education for upgrading to specialized Universities of Education. The others were Alvan Ikoku College of Education, Owerri, Adeyemi College of Education, Ondo, Ibrahim Kashim College of Education, Maiduguri, ATC Kano and ATC Zaria.Establishment of the Tai Solarin University of Education.It came to past in the tear 2005 that I was recalled by His Excellency Otunba Gbenga Daniel from Kenyatta University and was appointed Consultant to the Governor on Sports in the events leading up to the Ogun State Bid for the Hosting of the National Sports Festival. I recalled the National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE) experiences and recommendations on the aforementioned Colleges of Education and it informed my strong recommendation to the Government of Ogun State for the transformation of the State College of Education into a University of Education which was favorably considered by Government.The transformation of the State College of Education to a University of Education was a flagship achievement of the Government of His Excellency Otunba Gbenga Daniel. This is what is now the first University of Education in Nigeria the Tai Solarin University of Education (TASUED) which makes Ogun State score another first in the annals of Nigeria tertiary educational development.
s was indeed a milestone proposal that became a legacy milestone achievement of the Government as TASUED became the first University of Education in Nigeria, second in Africa to the University of Education in Winneba, Ghana. Coincidentally my friend and brother Professor Olukayode Oyesiku emerged as Pioneer Vice-Chancellor while I have also been privileged to have served on the Governing Council of the University between 2014 and 2018 by the grace of God and pleasure of the Government of His Excellency, Senator Ibikunle Amosun FCA OON.The Dammam Miracle in The Kingdom of Saudi ArabiaIn 1988 I was attached to the Nigeria Under-20 National Team the Flying Eagles towards qualification for the 1989 Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) Under 20 Football Tournament in the Kingdom of Saudi ArabiaI recall that I was less than one year in the University Service as an academic when I got the attachment call of the Sports Psychology Association of Nigeria (SPAN) under the Presidency of late Professor P.B Ikulayo to provide psychological services to the Under 20, National Team the Flying camped at the Liberty Stadium now Obafemi Awolowo Stadium in Ibadan, preparatory to the qualifier matches for the 1989 FIFA Under 20 football tournament which held in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The nomination tuned out very remarkable in my sojourn in the practice of Sports Psychology as it actually set the tone for my Professional Practice as an Academic. I enjoyed the cooperation of the team`s Chief Coach Tunde Disu and his Assistant Late Coach Kelechi Emetiole.
ll of us along with two National Service personnel Youth Corpers, namely the Team Doctor, Dr Abdukadri Mu`azu and Physiotherapist Mr. Ayo Akinremi worked together to qualify the Team for the 1989 FIFA Under 20 world Cup competition held in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The performance of that Team remains green in Nigeria football history and indeed that of the world football as the Flying Eagles recorded the greatest come back in history at that level of FIFA football competitions. It would be recalled that the team came from four goals down exhibited uncommon resilience, fought back to score four goals to equalize and went ahead to defeat dreaded Russia Team by penalties. The performance of the Team in that FIFA Tournament showed one Team that composed of Players with high degree of Mental Thoughness as exhibited in the comeback resilience. (Excepts of Saudi 89 video)It was a match that actually brightened up the FIFA competition as it was tagged the Dammam Miracle which was actually my words while responding to questions in the post-match interview conducted by the Saudi Arabia and the International Sports Media. It was yet another milestone in my career history as a Sports Psychologist because I was able to provide psychological services at the level of the world cup and happy to make history with others in the Team that made Nigeria play for the first time in the Finals of the FIFA football competition at the Under 20 Level. The under listed Players were the dramatis personae.
Nduka Ugbade (Captain)Mutiu AdepojuChristopher NwosuOladunni OyekaleDemeji LawalPeter OgabaTaiwo EnegweaChristopher OhenhenChinedu OdiariBawa AbdullaiAngos EkejiEmeka AmadiJimoh BalogunAnthony EmedofuSamuel ElijahTunde CharityMike OyemacharaThe FIFA report showed that the Best Nigeria Players in the Tournament were Christopher Ohenhen and Mutiu Adepoju. Others that were favourably rated are Christopher Nwosu and Dimeji Lawal.Vice- Chancellor Ma, please Laugh. I call on us all to Laugh. Let us laugh more as Laughing is good for healthy living. I am to report that laughing was implicated in the fit performed by the Flying Eagles of Nigeria particularly the display of shooting accuracy during the penalty kicks shoot out. The Sloganin any situation Laughon advice by my Academic Mentor Professor A.S Sohi was quite handy as a therapy during my 13 months attachment while rendering Psychological services to the Team at that time. Let us laugh.Psychological support services to the Kenyan National Team, The Harambe StarsIt is important to mention my stint with the Harambe Stars, the national Team of Kenya where I worked with the Kenya National football Coach Jacob Ghost Mulle during which time the Team qualified for the Africa Nations Cup after 24 years that the Team has been questing for qualification.The next phase of psychological services that hinges on Team Performance Rejuvenation (TPR) was frustrated because to the Team the Sky was the limit and not the beginning as qualification was the ultimate. Consequently the Team which played along Mali, Senegal and Burkina Faso did not go beyond the group stage of the 2004 Competition held in Tunisia. Nigeria suffered the same faith of Team Performance Rejuvenation (TPR) during preparation for the 2018 FIFA World cup held in Russia after being one of the early qualifiers for the competition as informed professional advise fell on deaf ears of the Nigeria Football Federation. It should be noted that Psychological Support Services is not an alternative to technical preparation for sports competitions but it is as important as technical training because what makes the difference between the Champion Athlete or Team is the psychological preparation which give an edge and thickens the winning mentality.Indeed, Sports Coaches can only apply psychology of Coaching and definitely not the totality of what processes and protocols that goes into psychological aspects of sport coaching as Psychology of Coaching is subsumed in Psychology of Sports and Exercise. Just as a Sports Coach cannot handle the optimum fitness processes which competency lies with Sports and Exercise Physiologists, nutrition and dietetics of Athletes which competency lies with Sports Nutritionist so also is the Coach not competent to manage the psychology of the athletes in training and competition. Sports Coaching Science in Africa should graduate from the current short-circuited coaching processes to the full circuited athletes training programme.It is therefore advised that Professional Sports Men and Women and Sports Teams in Africa particularly in West and East Africa should have the full compliments of the Sports Medicine Team (SMT) which normally include among others the trained Sports Psychologist.Sports Talents ObservatoriesVice-Chancellor ma, distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen in my 37 years as a Sports Management Scientist I observed that thetrial by error rudimentaryapproach in the discovery, growth and development of Sports men and women still thrives in the Africa sports ecosystem whereby disruptive ofcatching them young cliché.This brings to the fore the need for the setting up of Sports Talents Observatories (STOs) which remains the most viable and veritable quasi-scientific means of achieving a bottom up sustainable Sports Men and Women replenishment stock. Indeed, availability of Sports Talents Observatories (STOs) is sine qua non to sustainable grassroots sports talents identification growth and development. The current situation whereby the greatest percentage of growing children is not given opportunity to be seen and observed should be redressed. In the past, opportunities abound for the average child to be seen and observed for identification.Catch Them Young (CTY)Physical Education which is fundamental to the creation of Observatory Opportunities for identification purpose has since been relegated to the background in curriculum implementation. The Schools Inter-House Sports both at primary and secondary school levels are no longer mounted in the manner for the activity to provide for effective observation to take place for purpose of identification. This is so because these two issues at the levels of Primary and secondary education underscores the success or failure of theCatch Them Young (CTY)bottom up process of athletes’ identification for growing and subsequent development of the identified Sports Talent to be grown and developed to become podium Sports Men and Women.The enduring panacea should be the creation of an all-inclusive Sports Talents Observatory (STO) as articulated by the Nigeria Progenitors of the National Academicals Sports Committee (NASCOM) initiative years back in the Nigeria.This initiative that is mainly targeted at discovering and nurturing of the Young Athletes has high potency of engendering the ELEMENTS OF SOCIAL FACILITATIONas enshrined in the contagion theory and the fast track of UPWARD SOCIAL MOBILITY of discovered sports men and women under the initiative. The envisaged positive multiplier effects and benefits of the NASCOM initiative to societal good makes it a veritable Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) which Africa countries need to drive Sustainable Sports Development (SSD) and to positively reverse the multi-faceted challenges of Youths, particularly in Sub-Sahara Africa.Combined Spectator Capacity of Africa StadiaThe combined spectator caring capacity of the stadium facilities in Nigeria is seven-hundred and twenty-one thousand (721,000). Nigeria`s population is estimated at 200 million or above. The Republic of South Africa has fifty-one (51) Stadia with caring capacity of fifteen thousand spectators. The combined caring spectator capacity of the 51 stadia sums up to One million, eight hundred and fifty-two thousand four hundred and twenty (1,852,420). The population of Republic of South Africa is estimated 52.98 million as at 2013 figures.The figures in respect of Nigeria simply shows that as low as 0004% and definitely less than 1%of the estimated population of Nigerians can actually be spectators if they so desire across the country.This is against the Republic of South Africa where up to 3.4% of the population who so desire can be spectators across their country.Other African Countries, namely Egypt and Algeria have higher percentages of Spectator caring capacity stadia. Egypt with a population of 82.06 million can boast of 37 number, fifteen thousand seating capacity stadium and above and a combined seating capacity of one million, twenty thousand and two hundred and twenty –five (1,020,225) giving opportunity for 1.2% of the total population that can be spectators across the country. Algeria with a population of 39.21 million has 38 stadia with seating capacity of above 15,000 spectators. The combined spectator caring capacity in Algeria, is one million, one hundred and forty-three thousand five hundred and ninety-three (1,143, 593), with opportunity for 2.91% of the total population to be spectators across the country if they so desire. Ghana with 2021 population figures estimate of 32.83 has sevenstadia with seating capacity of 15,000 and above with combined 180,528 spectator caring capacity. The aforementioned needed to bebrought up in this lecture because of the strategic importance of Provision of and accessibility to modern type Sports facilities in the subject matter and business of sports talents growth and development.It is not an exaggeration to submit that all sports talents in the developed countries that turn up as podium athletes are grown and developed in modern type sports facilities.Africa leading developing economies should by legislation ensure that sports facilities are built by Private and Public Proprietors of Educational Institutions particularly the Regional and Local Governments in general. This shall promote mass children participation in sports, create opportunities for the Child to be seen, identified, grown and developed.By this strategic Legislation, educational institutions across the countries, Regional and Local Governments shall have modern type standard sports facilities under which all identified talents are grown and developed. Sports Skills are better displayed and assessed on bumps free, safe and well-marked out pitches. This legislation has become necessary to reverse the localization of stadium facilities in capital cities.The Media and Sports Talents IdentificationMedia coverage of sports is important in the process of talents identification. It is common for the media searchlight to be focused on such sensational news of established sportsmen and women. Media Houses should also report sports at the growing and developing phases. Both the Print and Electronic media should cover grassroots sports. It shall also serve as motivation for the hitherto unknown Athlete, Physical Education Teacher, Grassroots Coach, Local Sports Enthusiast, Parents and such Sports Significant Others (SSOs) whose activities and programmes shall and should be reported. This shall enable Policy Makers know the state of sports development at the grassroots level. This shallgive fillip to the Bottom up Sports talents identification growth and development approach that is being canvassed in this lecture. My observation in the past 37 years is that Grassroots Sports reportage is abysmally low.Athletes Development Pathway (ADP) and EducationThe existence of an Athletes Development Pathway (ADP) is also strategic to the scientific development of identified sports talents. Athletes Development Pathway (ADP) is about milling the identified Athlete(s) through scientific processes with the objective of making the athlete(s) perform optimally constantly. Such programmed Athletes spend more time in training and as such needed to be motivated with timely training grants and scholarships to enable them combine education with sports career whereby securing the future when such athletes retire. This justifies the call for the establishment of specialized Sports Universities which shall provide a one stop shop for Athletes identification, growth and development without compromising the future of the Athletes education.Sports Education and Strategic Preservation of Facilities of the 13th Africa GamesGhana Government should strategically preserve the Facilities of the 13th Africa Games that Ghana hosted in Accra with the fantastic state of the art sports facilities. The Games Scientific Congress that was Organized and Sponsored by the Africa Sports Management Association of which I am the Acting President came up with a Communique in which the Development of the Girl Child through Sports was highlighted. A major item of the Communique called on the Government of Ghana to establish aUniversity of Sports Developmentso as to preserve the Legacy of the 13th Africa Games and as a strategy to prevent the Games Facilities built by Government from both Functional and Structural decay.
Vice-Chancellor ma, Ladies and Gentlemen to achieve prevention of both Functional and structural decay of the facilities used for the 13thAfrica Games I propose that the University of Health and Allied Sciences come to the aid of Ghana Government and open an Accra Campus to be located at the Facilities of the 13th Africa Games and move academic activities of the School of Sports and Exercise Medicine to the Campus.I am happy to State that the School of Sports and Exercise Medicine of UHAS is unique in Africa in terms of Curriculum and Curriculum implementation. The Facilities of the 13th Africa Games at Borteyman with a well-resourced Human Performance Laboratory comes in handy to upscale the Training of Students and enhance both Research and Community services aspects of the programs of the School that focuses the promotion of Exercise as Medicine among other activities of capacity building in Ghana sports ecosystem.The positive multiplier effect of Government ceding the Facilities to UHAS-SSEM is huge and highly beneficial to Sustainable Sports Development in Ghana. I therefore use this opportunity to appeal to the Sports friendly Government of the Republic of Ghana under His Excellency President Nana Akufo-Addo to consider this suggestion favorably and expeditiously hand the Borteyman facilities over to the University of Health and Allied Sciences for the use of the School of Sports and Exercise Medicine as a strategy to prevent functional and structural facilities decay. By so doing Ghana would have laid the Foundation of a full-fledged specialized Sports University which the School can easily metamorphose into.Call for Establishment of Federal Sports University in NigeriaI will not end this aspect of this Lecture without making a persuasive call to the Government of my country Nigeria under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to establish theFederal Sports University in Nigeriawithout further delay so as to insulate the Facilities at the National Stadium in Surulere Lagos and the MKO Abiola Stadium Abuja from experiencing perennial functional and structural decay.Production of Notable Sports ProfessionalsRecords show that in the past 37 years I facilitated twenty-seven (27) different prescribed courses in Sports Science and Health Education degree programmes at the undergraduate and postgraduate curriculum implementation levels that produced graduates of Physical Education, Sports Science and Exercise Medicine, Recreation and Sports Management from Ogun State University now Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State, University of Ibadan, Oyo State both in Nigeria, Kenyatta University, Nairobi, Kenya, University of Education, Winneba, Ghana, University of Calabar, Calabar, Nigeria and University of Health and Allied Sciences, Ho, Volta Region, Ghana. In this process many Students in West and East Africa passed through me this past 37 years, apart from research activities that produced articles that were published in revered national and international academic journals.
I cannot keep track of the progress of all these students but some spread across Nigeria, Ghana and Kenya stand out. These distinguished Academics and Sports Professionals that am very proud to have thought, nurtured and mentored are doing great in various capacities in the Africa Sports ecosystem. They include but not limited to Professor Andrew Fadoju, of University of Ibadan, Professor Steven Hamalfiatu, of University of Maiduguri, Professor Olanrewaju Ipinmoroti, of the Tai Solarin University of Education, Professor Vincent Onywera, and Late Professor Miwusikah Andanje, of Kenyatta University, Nairobi Kenya, Olusola Ogunnowo, the Executive Secretary of the Nationwide League in the Nigeria Football Federation, Dr Yomi Oluwasanmi the Director of Schools Sports at the Lagos State Sports Commission. Dr Samuel Donkor of University of Ghana, Coach Emmanuel Kofi Atiso of University of Health and Allied Sciences, Ho, Volta Region Ghana. Coach Moses Adu, the Chief Coach of Ghana Badminton Federation. Coach Ismail Armah who owns a Table Tennis Club, Lt. Colonel Timipre Okou of the Nigeria Army Corp of Physical Education and Dr. Courage Kobla Adenyoh of the University of Education Winneba who graduated with a First class degree.RecommendationsWith my 37 years in the saddle of Sports Science and pontificating in Sports and Exercise Psychology and by extension sports management, I am confident to make the following recommendations for the future of Sports Psychology, Sports Management and Sustainable Sports DevelopmentTrained certificated Sports Psychologists should be attached to all sports teams and sports contingents to sub-national and international sports competitions and festivals before, during and after given sports competitions for effectiveness of the rendering of psychological services.Sports Men and Women welfare during competitive days should be scientifically managed without breaking the chain of the Sports Medicine Team.Sports Psychologists should work with Sports Coaches to constantly trigger laughter in sports camps and in on-site competition management so as to enable frequent release of stress minimizing serotonin so that the Athletes can perform in their psychological moments.The future of Elite Sports Men and Women in retirement should be secured through an enduring Athletes Welfare Network.Research and application of Science and Technology in Sports Coaching should be scaled up through adequate and timeous Funding.Sports Coaches should be availed opportunities of continuous coaching education for capacity building as the world of sports coaching science is constantly highly dynamic.Governments should recognize sports as a Profession and consider professional qualifications in making sports related government appointments.Sports Councils should be abolished to insulate management of sports from the Civil Service bureaucratic Red Tapism which is an anathema to Sustainable Sports Development.National and State Sports Commissions should be established as a strategy to further the professionalization of Sports Management and better position the Sports Industry for business and create conducive environment for Private Sector participation.Specialized Sports University should be established to bridge the Manpower gap in the Africa Sports Industry particularly that sports is now big business.The Federal Government of Nigeria and indeed Governments of Africa countries should establish an all-inclusive Sports-For- Development programme fashioned after the Nigeria NASCOM initiative.Sports facilities and particularly purpose built infrastructures for mega sports events should be strategically programmed for use to prevent the twin problems of functional and structural decay.EpilogueThe Gyapong Family.Vice-Chancellor ma, Ladies and Gentlemen, I thank God that I am able to deploy my expertise in sports and exercise medicine curriculum development to the establishment of the School of Sports and Exercise Medicine of the University by the instrumentality of the opportunities given me by the immediate Past Vice-Chancellor Professor John Owusu Gyapong who also appointed the pioneer Head of the first operating Department of the School, the Department of Sports and Exercise Medical Sciences. I am particularly thankful to Professor John Owusu Gyapong forhisbelieving in my capacity to deliver on the mandate to deliver the SSEM project by going ahead to retain me on the job despite my long hospitalization and eventual amputation. The School has indeed come to stay with curricular for other Bachelor’s degree programmes and appropriate postgraduate programmes for all the other Departments in the School namely Department of Sports Psychology and Rehabilitation, Department of Sports Nutrition and Department of Sports Management and Marketing have already been articulated under my watch and have all been approved by the University Academic Board. I am indeed grateful to Professor John Owusu Gyapong and his amiable wife Professor Margret Gyapong who also in her right is an accomplished Academic and shining example to Women in Academics for deployment of timeous institutional care and support towards me until the end of Professor John Owusu Gyapong`s tenure as the 2nd Vice-Chancellor of this unique numero uno citadel of learning in the training of Health Professionals.Family is the CradleVice-Chancellor Ma, Ladies and Gentlemen, Family is the cradle. You don’t choose your family as they are God`s blessings to you just as you are to them. Family is the live jacket that protects one from the stormy sea of life. Family is the anchor that holds one through life’s storms. Family is where life begins and love never ends. Indeed, the entire Omotayo Descendants that I am the Family Head are awesome and quite supportive. Particularly, my siblings, children, occupational and social family stood by me at the most critical time of my life, in the manner of the power of the Eagle Bird. My Siblings, Children, Occupational and Social family like the Eagle carried me above the storm until the storm was over in the matter of my long hospitalization at the Ho, Teaching Hospital. Big Sister, Ayo. Tola, Tosin, Labake, Tope, Abimbola, Onikepo, Oluwaseun as I call him, Ore Oluwa as his Mummy Olufemi my first Love in life and Others call him, my Occupational and Social family too many to mention, indeed if one has you people as siblings, children, occupational and social family one has everything.To my siblings, children, occupational and social family God Almighty has replaced what would have been tears of sorrow with tears of joy in your lives in the matter of my illness which God made me survive. In fact, I got the motivation to stay alive at some point of the life-threatening ailment from you all to the Glory of God and to prove that God answers prayers. I thank Professor Eric Ofori, Pastor Benjamin Fatokun and Mr Benjamin Boateng for timeous decisions that faithful day and very well appreciate the Medical Team led by Professor Yaw Asante Awuku that worked under the express instructions of Professor John Owusu Gyapong for display of competence and professionalism in medical resuscitation practice because I was actually resuscitated. Indeed however,it can only be GOD as the saying goes Doctors care, God Heals.
ClosingVice-Chancellor ma, Ladies and Gentlemen, in closing this lecture I like to single out for special mention of some personalities in my journey of life this past 37 years. These personalities areFour erudite Professors,A Charted Accountant,A consummate Labour Leader and one of the custodians of Ijebu Tradition,An astute businessman and custodian of Ijebu Tradition,An environmental expert,A human Capacity Development ManagerAn award Winning Football AdministratorA Barrister at LawA Sports Risks ManagerA growing Economist.The encyclopedia of Ghana SportsIn this regard I make special mention of Professor Ayo Omotayo, Director General, National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, Professor Lasun Gbadamosi a former Dean of Education at the Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, Nigeria, Professor Craig Mahoney former Vice- Chancellor of the University of the West of Scotland and the Chief Executive of The Education Group (TEG) London U.K. Professor Owolabi Ajayi Erudite Professor of Geological Science, Engr, Tola Omotayo an Environmental Engineer, Mr David Sobande a Fellow of the Institute of Charted Accountants of Nigeria, Comrade Dr, Niyi Osoba, The Giwa Egbe Bobagunte Okunrin Asiwaju Akile Ijebu,Alhaji Lekan Teriba the Eta Giwa and Asiwaju , Egbe Bobagunte Okunrin Asiwaju Akile Ijebu,
Dr. Solomon Alao the Chief Executive of of Cides Ltd, Mr Sola Ogunnowo , the Executive Secretary of Nationwide League in Nigeria, Barrister Wale Adekola, Presiding Partner De Cathedral and Associates Law firm and Director Legal Services Africa Students Foot Union, Mr Femi Abioye the Task Manger of d` Kaizen Worldwide and Executive Secretary of Africa Student Football Union and my first Son Oluwaseun Oreoluwa Omotayo an Economist, Chief Operating Officer and Managing Partner with Emifast LLC Dubai, UAE. Late Dr. Emmanuel Owusu- Ansah, the Encyclopedia of Ghana Sports, former Technical Adviser to Ghana Sports Minister, Patron of Africa Students Football Union and Africa Sports Management Association GOLD Award Winner. I hold these distinguished personalities dear for their unflinching support for most of my initiatives which sometimes may sound crazy but they still always stand by me with unwavering optimism these past 37 years.Faculty Staff and Students of UHAS-SSEMVice-Chancellor ma, Ladies and Gentlemen I am proud of all the Faculty and Staff that I have worked with in the University and particularly those in the School of Sports and Exercise Medicine. I am particularly proud of the Students who before graduation are in hot demand already in the Sports ecosystem in Ghana. As I exit from UHAS, I go with my head high up in joy and with the School of Sports and Exercise Medicine in my heart as it is not yet UHURU because the growth and development of the School is work in progress, I assure the University Management that I shall continue to seek the sustainable growth and development of the School.Prize for the Best Student in Applied Sports PsychologyAt this juncture, I am delighted announce theProfessor Oluwaseun Olanrewaju Omotayo Prizefor the Level 400 Student with the highest A Grade Scorein theSSEM 401, Applied Sports Psychology course. The institutionalization of this prize which shall be administered by Managers of The Oriola-Olubisi Foundation is the funiculus umbilicalis that ties me and my Family to the School of Sports and Exercise Medicine and by extension the University in perpetuity.Not Bed Of RosesVice-Chancellor ma, Ladies and Gentlemen, I like to state that I have all along delved on the positives and deliberately ignored the negatives of the last 37 years of academic activities. There were indeed downs. According to the Late Sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, of blessed memory ``It is, I think, enough for me to say that life itself is, from the cradle to the grave, a series of unbroken risks. I make no boast about this, but those who know me intimately will testify to the fact that I have never, at any time, shrunk from taking my full share of the risks of life, with its unending opportunities and vicissitudes ``I tell you all, that, for me these past 37 years are really not bed of roses. I tell you all that I am an incurable optimist such that at each down, I quickly always sum up the courage to rise again and for which God has been my pillar of support.
Why an Exaugural Lecture?Having being unable to deliver an Inaugural Lecture due to the circumstances of my academic sojourn this past 37 years I am very happy to deliver this Exaugural Lecture. This Lecture is an extensive summary of what I have been professing. It has allowed me to appreciate all human beings that have come my way. Indeed, on behalf of myself and the entire Omotayo Descendants home and in diaspora I sincerely thank the Vice- Chancellor, Professor Lydia Aziato for allowing me to deliver this lecture which signposts my retirement. My gratitude to you and the entire University Management shall remain ever green as the event shall be stored in my long term memory. Vice-Chancellor Ma, Just as you have put smiles on my face and that of my entire Family, may your smiles never fade.My dear Registrar Ms Yaa Amankwa Opuni I thank you for your support from Day one that I resumed in August 2019. In this connection I am very grateful to Mr. Offoi Gathor my brother from another parentage for his unflinching support. I met him on 1stof August 2019 on the Instructions of the Current Registrar and ever since then we have bonded. The pioneer School Officer, Mrs Charity Osei, I appreciate you for administrative guidance at critical times since you came on board the project UHAS- SSEM.ForgivenessVice-Chancellor ma, Ladies and Gentle Men, I implore us all to always pray not to know our enemy(ies) because the situations and conditions during which one can or know his or her enemy (ies) are never the best of times. This is because one gets to know his or her enemies mostly in times of critical life challenges and vicissitudes. However, I appreciate the infallibility of Human Beings and or inevitability of Human Beings to do wrong either knowingly or unknowingly. I came to this realization due to experiences of the past 37 years of psychologizing.According to Nelson Mandela “Forgiveness liberates the soul, it removes fear. That’s why it’s such a powerful weapon.”According to Ephesians, 4.32, be kind and companionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as Christ God forgave you.Proverbs 17. 9 tell us that love prospers when a fault is forgiven, but dwelling on it separates close friends.According to Psalm 130 3-4, if your Lord should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand, but there is forgiveness with you, that you may be feared.These words on the marble and scriptural quotes underscore the need for us all too to always forgive because our journey together is short. Forgiveness is indeed not a sign of weakness but rather a demonstration of strength of character and maturity. Consequently therefore, I know that all these 37 years on this job I definitely must have offended some individuals. To those persons I pray for forgiveness as I have also elected to forgive all.Finally, while I thank everybody who graced this occasion with physical and virtual presence. I refer to Verse 12 of Psalm 116, `what shall I render onto the lord for all his benefits towards me. In my case, i do not need to wonder on what to render to God. I know that I should give glory to God.
Almighty, sing songs of praises and thanksgiving to God for my academic career these past 37 years.Please sing along with me. What Shall I render to the Lord for he has done so much for me…. Rendition by the UHAS Chior.Retired but NOT TiedBorrowing from the song of Legendary Jimmy Cliff,Many Rivers to Cross (Render it).As I retire from the walls of the classroom, I am definitely not tired of sports related community services and consultancy engagements as I move on to the new challenge of growing and developing the International Sports Institute (ISI) www.isipro.org (insert ISI video) the virtual Sports Institute where Sports and Education meets with the focus of bridging the manpower gap in the sports industry. Vice-Chancellor ma, Ladies and Gentlemen this is my OdysseyAkpe na mawu, MedaseReferencesCollins M. (1995) Sports Development Locally or Regionally, Reading Institute of Leisure and Amenities Management.Hamati , J , Eslani, S, and Najafi, M, (2013) The Study of Existing Program and Design Talent Identification Suggestions in Soccer Players In Khazenstan. International Journal of Sports Studies, 3, (3) 246-267.Ingrid Beutler (2008) Sport serving development and peace: Achieving the goals of the United Nations through sport, Sportin Society, 11:4, 359-369, DOI:Omotayo, O.O. (2016) Sports Facilities in Nigeria: Availability and Usability. Keynote Paper presented at the 2016 National Conference of Nigeria Society of Sports Management, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria.United Nations Inter-Agency Task Force Report, ‘Sport for Development and Peace’ 2000.William, M.A & Reilly, T. (2000), Talent Development in Soccer. Journal of Sports Science, 18, 657-607.
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