Moshood Adebayo Lasisi popularly known as ‘Africa’ was a product of school sports. He rose through the system, and also graduated gradually, to manage the system, both as a Games Master and administrator, under the Ministry of Education and Human Capital Development, where he retired, after 35 years of managing school sports.
The whole journey started from Oro Grammar School, in 1973. Africa was a member of the school’s football and athletics team.
Between 1975 – 1978, he was ripe enough, and was among the athletes that represented Kwara State at the famous Liberty Stadium in Ibadan, where he miraculously came 2nd in 200m in a competition that had virtually all the star athletes in Nigeria then.
The feat earned him an invitation to the national camp, and was later picked as a member of the relays team for Nigeria at the 1978 All Africa Games in Algiers. The team won gold medal at the event.
Again, he was among the African selected athletes that toured five European countries, which included Spain, Germany, Portugal and Bulgaria. It was this trip that eventually gave him the name, ‘Africa’, because Africa was boldly written on the track-suit that was worn by the atheletes.
Africa was Games Prefect-General for Ilorin Teachers College between 1977 to 1978.
According to him, “Kwara state gave me in-service opportunity. I was working at the Kwara State Sports Council and at the same time, going to school, College of Education, Ilorin”.
He recalled that he was given that opportunity together with one Mrs. Lawanson, who was then a student of St. Clares Anglican Girls Grammar School, Offa. He was at the College of Education between 1978 to 1981.
“At the College of Education, I was elected unopposed as the Director of Sports by the Students’ Union. And after my service in 1982, I was employed by the Kwara State Civil Service Commission, and posted to Igosun Teachers College. I was there till 1984”.
“And in 1984, some Principals who knew my sporting potentials and exploits asked for my transfer to the Ministry of Education, Sports and Health Education Unit, where I served till this year that I retired”, he explained further.
“I retired as Deputy Director, Sports, Ministry of Education and Human Capital Development”.
Africa was invited to Kwara Academicals football camp in 1974. He was in camp with players who included Rasheed Badmus, Late Baba Ayo, Late Taofeek (Also known as No Good), Niyi Samuel and Obalowu, who was a goalkeeper.
“In Lagos, Kwara performed wonderfully well against the Western state, and some of us were invited to the national camp. Nigeria was then selecting players that will play against Ghana” he said.
“I concentrated more on athletics when I was dropped from the Academicals football team on a trip to Jos in 1974”.
The undefeated Kwara relays team then had Africa, Hameed Adio, Oyeladun (Aslso known as Kube) and Emmanuel Bamigboye, who is now late. Late Bamigboye was former athletics coach at the Kwara State Sports Council. They represented the state at the National Sports Festival in Kaduna in 1977. At Lagos in 1973, Africa joined others to compete in the intermediate class.
“Then, we were doing sports with passion, and we were happy doing it. There was commitment and perseverance, despite the fact that there was no money. We had series of rigorous trainings, like climbing the Sobi Hill 24 times and running from Ajasse-Ipo to St. Clares Anglican Girls Grammar School, Offa”.
Africa commended his late brother, Professor Oladoja Rasheed Lasisi for the support he gave him throughout his active days in sports.
“I must commend my late brother, Professor Lasisi. He was the one who gave me all the support and encouragement I needed”.
“I had wanted to study History”
“I don’t normally stay in school, especially in the first and second terms. I will be out there representing either Kwara state or Nigeria in sporting events. I normally write my examinations at the staff room before joining up with the others in the class. It was a bit easy for me then because I always go to camps with my textbooks, and I always create time to read”.
He therefore, advises athletes to always remain focused, and embrace education.
“Sports prepare you for challenges in life, because it encourages discipline and endurance. Our athletes should also stay away from drugs and take education very serious”, he concluded.
