Molade Okoya-Thomas might be dead, but his legacies remain.
The business mogul who died on Monday, February 2 at the age of 79 would be remembered for many things, but more for his contributions to the development of sports in Nigeria, especially table tennis.
Born in Lagos State on June 8 1935, Okoya-Thomas was educated at Princess School, Lagos, 1946; Balham and Tooting College of Commerce, London, 1956–1959;
Columbia University, New York, US, 1981.
As a sportsman, Okoya-Thomas was active in his youth, he was a joint all Nigeria record holder of 4 X 220 yards relay race while at Baptist Academy Lagos. He has been the sole sponsor of the annual Asoju Oba Table Tennis Championships for over four decades setting a record as the only Nigerian to have single-handedly and consistently sponsored a competition spanning over four decades.
As a philanthropist , he has similarly served as vice-chairman, Lagos State Sports Council, President Lagos Lawn Tennis Club, Chairman 3rd All-Africa Games Appeal Fund Committee, Chairman National Appeal Fund for Sports Development and chairman Sports Trust Fund.
Okoya-Thomas built and donated a Modern Sports Hall for students and staff of the Lagos State University (LASU) in 2009.
He was also a prominent member of the fund raising committee for the construction of Teslim Balogun Stadium in Surulere.
He was appointed Director, Transcap Nigeria Limited; Director, Niger Motors Industries Limited; Chairman, Studio Press Nigeria Limited and has been the Chairman of CFAO Nigeria Limited since 1987.
Till his death, he served as chairman of many organisations including CICA (Nigeria) Limited, Oktom Investment Limited, Itochu Nigeria Limited, Chiyoda Nigeria Limited and Anchoria Investment & Securities Ltd. He also served as Director of NFI Insurance Company Plc and Gateway Bank Plc.
He has also contributed to the development of
Lagos state by serving in numerous committees including; member, Lagos City Council between1971–1975, member Lagos State Development and Property Corporation, Chairman Board of Trustees Glover Memorial Hall and Tom Jones Hall.
His titles in Nigeria included the Asoju Oba of Lagos, Babasuwa of Ijebu-Remo, Odofin of Ife among others.
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