By Dare Kuti

The members of the Nigeria Volleyball Federation received with shock the news of the death of her former President- Otunba Eddie Aderinokun who died on January 3, 2020 at the ripe age of 80 years.

Uncle Eddie, as he is fondly called, came into volleyball to fulfill his vision of making the game of volleyball, not only to be a household name, but also to make volleyball a number one sport in Nigeria, surpassing the game of soccer.

According to members of the volleyball federation, Otunba Aderinokun brought in many companies like Pepsi, Three Crowns, African Alliance Insurance Company, State governments into sponsoring volleyball.

It read, “The sponsors brought by the late President enabled volleyball game to be played once in a month and at time every two two weeks. Nigeria hosted international championships, Re-invigorating the CAVB Zone 3, thereby establishing close working relationship among the countries in the zone.

“He made efforts to see that Nigerian teams participated in international championships, created a National Volleyball Referees’ Association thereby putting an end to coaches officiating matches and made hosting of international volleyball courses a focus.

The statement read that Late Otunba Aderinokun established strong links with foreign clubs which enabled Nigeria players join professional club sides.

It read, “He established strong links with foreign volleyball clubs in France, Egypt, Tunisia, Belgium, Libya, and these links enabled our players to join these clubs as professionals. Players like Wasper, Edosa Aye, Tunde Omisore, Emmanuel Jatto, Moyo Kassim, Thomas Aroko, Usman Abdallah, Friday Abesin, Lola Aina, Esther Dusu, Anthonia Oyedele, Tony Ngwube, Eze, and many others.

Just as our players traveled out to play, so also did we have foreign players coming in to play in Nigeria.

“These and more were fulfilled visions that made volleyball a household name in Nigeria and also outside the shores of Nigeria”.

Uncle Eddie Aderinokun later became a member of the CAVB and FIVB Media Commissions and was a force to reckoned with.

Otunba Aderinokun played significant role in the growth and development of Volleyball in Nigeria and outside.