Chief Alex Akinyele, the first person to occupy the post of the Nigeria’s National Sports Commission (NSC) as Executive Chairman, has died in Lagos..He was aged 81.
A Face book post by his son, Constantine Kayode Akinfolarin Akinyele, on Thursday night reads:
“With thanksgiving for his life, I am sad to announce we lost our father and grand father, Chief Alexander Opeyemi Akinyele earlier today after a brief illness. May his soul rest in peace. He will be missed by his children, grand children, family and friends.”
The everlively Akinyele was the 16th person to head Nigeria’s sports ministry when, instead of being designated a sports minister, was made the Executive Chairman of the NSC in 1992.
Before then, the NSC was always a parastal under the ministy and usually had a board. In addition to being the NSC boss, he had also been the Information Minister and Chairman, National Orientation Movement.
A traditional chieftancy holder, he was boss, the Lisa Jigan and Lobosin of Ondo Kingdom. Born on April 24, 1938, he cooncidentally, shared the same birthday with his fellow Ondo man and legal icon, the Late Chief Gani Fawehimi.
