Renowned track and field official, Akin Afolarin has sent out a deeply emotional elegy, as he joins in mourning the death of a veteran administrator in Lagos State’s school sports sector, Peter Robert Ojien (PRO) Esumeh.
Afolarin, who is a teacher, erudite announcer and athletics umpire, recounted in a chat with Sports247 that the late Esumeh was a trailblazer in the annals of competitions among schools across Lagos State and beyond.
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He also recounted some fond memories they had together in the promotion of various categories of student-athletes and concluded that Esumeh’s expertise will be sorely missed by educators, administrators and students alike.
He added: “It is with great sense of loss but with gratitude to God for a life well lived that we announce the call to glory of Mr Peter Robert Ojien (PRO) Esumeh on Thursday after a protracted illness.
“He was a graduate of UNILAG, who was a prominent and active member of NAPHER SD of the 1970s in Lagos State, where he taught Physical and Health Education in several schools including the defunct St Joseph Teachers College, Surulere.
“In addition to playing different roles, he was a foundation member of Nigeria Association of Athletics Technical Officials (NAATO) and many other sports related bodies. He also coached and produced several athletes in diverse sports, who later won numerous laurels.
“The last school where he worked was Festac College in FESTAC Town, under Late Mrs Ogundana, before the school was divided into two sections in January 2003.
“He produced such great athletes like his late younger brother, Godfrey Esumeh, who represented Lagos State in the defunct Nigeria Teachers Colleges Games.
“He also produced Hylda Nkwocha at Festac College, who was long distance and featured in the now rested MTN International Half Marathon. PRO was also a retired football referee based in Abuja as well as a member of NAPHER SD and NAATO FCT.
“I also worked under him for several years in many competitions in Education District 5, Lagos and across Nigeria. He was a pioneer member of NAATO Lagos in 1990 and subsequently the body’s Ojo Unit in Lagos State.
“The burial plans will be announced later by the family. May God bless and rest his soul eternally. May God bless and console the bereaved family, colleagues and friends.”
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