Encomiums Pour In As Director of Federations, Elite Athletes Department,
Tayo Oreweme, Bows Out Of Civil Service

The scriptures notes that there is time for everything under the son. A time for entrance, and a time for exit.

Perhaps, one would add in view of service to one’s father land, a time to get appoint to serve your country and a time to bow out after 35 years of unchallenged and meritorious service.

Any person who has experienced Mrs. Tayo Oreweme (Née Agbemuko), who retires from active service on Wednesday, would agree that she is a human machine, indefatigable, workaholic and unyielding to compromise like the preacher she is.

Unknown to many, she was purpose-built for sports and, accordingly, she has outstandingly fulfilled her calling as a critical pivot in the many successes that Nigeria has achieved.

Born in June 1962 in Mobo Local Government Area, Ekiti State, Oreweme showed when she first stepped on the field at St. Patrick Catholic Primary School, Bacita, Kwara State, that she was made for sports. At the school, she dominated in 100m, 200m, long jump and basketball not only in inter-house sports, but also in the State Primary Schools competitions. Then, little did the world know that she just got on the track of a destiny of long meritorious service to Nigerian and African sports.

Oreweme was consistent at both the Notre Dame Girls Secondary School, Oro, where she was appointed the Health Prefect, and at the University of Ibadan, which she represented in several Nigeria Universities Games, as the best forward of its basketball team.

During her national youth service, the Director of the Bauchi State Sports Council, Babayo Shehu, quickly recognised her as an asset and not only took her into the state basketball team but also appointed her Secretary of the State Basketball Association. Impressed with her input and commitment, she was further appointed Secretary of the Fund Raising Committee for the Third All Africa Handball Championships hosted by the state in 1984.

It was no surprise that when Babayo Shehu was appointed the Director General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), he requested the NYSC to transfer Mrs. Oreweme into the federal service with him. The National Sports Commission retained her.

From 1985 till date, Oreweme has remained in sports, ascending higher offices and responsibilities with innumerable achievements on her trail.

From her first assignment as Assistant Secretary, Festival/Games Secretariat, she has served as the General Secretary of over 15 sports federations in which she left her footprints in the sand of time through the reorganization of the secretariat for improved efficiency, introduction of new competitions, creation of new sponsorships, sustenance of existing partnerships, establishment of youth clinics for talent discovery, regular attendance of international events and hosting of continental championships, improvement in athletes welfare and team harmony, all of which gave verve to Team Nigeria.

For instance, as Secretary of the Handball Federation, she sustained sponsorship of all domestic championships from 1986 to 1990; led Team Nigeria to the Algiers 1986 Fourth All-Africa Handball Championships at which Nigeria won the girls continental trophy for the first time. She led them back to retain the trophy at the Tunisia 1988 Fifth All Africa Junior Handball Championships.

She organised the Maiduguri 1988 Fourth All Africa Senior ‘B’ Handball Championships at which Nigeria won the male and female trophies; organised the Minna 1989 Third Commonwealth Youth Handball Championships in which Nigeria also won the male and female trophies; hosted the Owerri 1987 Ninth All Africa Club Handball Championships, and the Bauchi 1989 Seventh World Junior Ladies World Handball Championships, the first time ever Nigeria hosted those continental and intercontinental events.

The record is the same in Taekwondo, Table Tennis, Cricket, Basketball, Traditional Sports, Athletics, Judo, Swimming and more.

Promoted to Chief Sports Officer in 2007, Oreweme headed the technical branch of the Technical and Coaching Department responsible for the preparation, training tours and camping of Team Nigeria for local and international competitions, as well the establishment and interpretation of rules, guidelines, statutes and resolution of technical disputes for sports Federations and the treatment of matters relating to international organizations like the IOC, SCSA, Commonwealth Games and International Federations.

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