Veteran athletics coach Harrison Obiajulu Momah was finally laid to rest Friday at Ilorin, Kwara State.
Coach Momah died early March at the ripe age of 83, leaving behind a young wife and two teenage daughters, after devoting his entire life to track and field.
He was committed to earth after a colourful lying in state at the Ilorin Stadium.
Speaking at the lying in State, Kwara State Sports Commission executive chairman, Bola Magaji, who represented the governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq said that the deceased, who came to Kwara in the 80s, made the difference, and was dedicated.
He described late Momah as a personality who adopted, train and nurture many athletes from grassroots to stardom.
While announcing government’s donation of N1million to the family, and calling for its dedication of the donation to the children’s education, Magaji charged Kwara Athletics Association to raise the standard of the sport, which according to him, is now low following Momah’s absence.
In their goodwill messages, the current Director of Sports, Mallam Ibrahim Bako, former Directors of Sports, Mrs Serah Bola Esan and Mallam Tunde Kazeem called for the assistance of the government and former athletes who passed through late Momah, for the family.
They charged the former and current athletes to sustain the legacies of late Momah, pointing out that despite his sacrifice, he didn’t enjoy the fruits of his labour as expected.
In his message on behalf of the former athletes, including those in the diaspora, Tunde Sulaiman, who said that he was discovered in 1985 by late Momah, said that the athletes are ready to support the family.
