PIONEERS OF PHYSICAL EDUCATION IN NIGERIA

To a long period of time Nigeria have developed by tried and error. Many pioneers have helped devating of P.E system at all dated back to the ’90s, it is the advantaging giving help to human our nation. The following are pioneers of P.E in Nigeria.

1.      Professor Mrs. Philomena Ikulayo

2.      Isaac Akioye

3.      Harding James Ekperigin

4.      P.O Ajisafe

5.      Professor Eniola Lasun

Professor Philomena Bolaji Ikulayo

Professor Ikulayo was someone who moved all around physical education and sports generally. She made a research of the fundamental of recreation. She was someone that distinguished herself both academically and on the other sports issues. She could boast of fire academic qualifications/honours in having a Bachelor of Education Degree, a second class honour in July 1998, a Master’s in education in December 1978, a doctor of philosophy cited (education) in 1985 Bachelor of Law in 2000, and became a barrister at (LLB) Bwoari, Abuja, Nigeria in February 2003. She worked as a Coach of Bwenining and badment on from 1977 to may 1978 at the University of Manchester. She had so many honours and awards and other publication. She was however made the Dean of Education, University of Lagos because of her achievements. She had teaching, research, leadership and administrative experience. She died in 2016.

  

Late Professor Philomena Bolaji Ikulayo

Isaac Akioye

He is indeed a role model who are talk about physical education in Nigeria. He was it rained in the Famous Loughborough training college where Harding James Ekperigin studies. He was off art of the Nigeria football team that played bare. Footed to the amazement of British spectator in 1949 he returned from Britain, he became a member of the Western region ministry of education as an education officer. In 1963, he replaced Harding James when he moved from Ibadan to Benin and consolidated the gains of his predecessor. He later obtained a master degree in physical education at the University in Athere USA.

He joined the staff of Obafemi Awolowo University popularly called Great Ife today. On his return from the United State of America where he was appointed the first acting Director of Institution of Physical Education.

Some highlight of his achievements:

1.      He quickly stopped the playing of netball in preference to basketball in Nigeria schools.

2.      He was one time secretary general and later president of Nigeria Association for Physical Education (NAPHER).

3.      He was the first Nigeria to earn a Master degree in physical education.

4.      During his time, Nigeria boasted of having the best set of athletics which composed world class standard.

Harding James Ekperigin

He is known for his works in the development of physical education in Nigeria and was born in Ugoon in Warri local government area of delta state, he attended government college, Ibadan where his athletics skills started. It must be noted that Harding James Participated in giercap competition in 1937 where he recorded an outstanding performance in the game of long jump, but his outstanding performance and dedication to sports earned him a scholarship to study at the Loughborough training college which was famous in England. He went onto graduate as the professionally trained Nigeria in physical education in 1952.

When Ekperigin returned to Nigeria, he was quickly appointed as on education officer by the then western region and was placed in charge of physical and health education of the ministry because of his outstanding performance in England. In 1963 he moved from Ibadan to Benin city when the mid eastern region was established to head the physical and health education of the state ministry because of his outstanding performance in England of education. He was quickly replaced by Isaac Okioye. On the 18^th of January 1981 James died at the age of 68years Ekperigin really played a major role in establishing physical education and health education in Nigeria. No wonder he was referred to as he all tim father of physical education in Nigeria.

Professor M.O. Ajisafe

This  is one of the pioneers of physical education in Nigeria, he was a professor of curriculum and instructions in physical education His contribution towards the development of physical education in Nigeria is note worthy. He made importance contributions in terms of curriculum for undergraduate programme in so many universities and colleges such as University of Ibadan in 1975/76, institution of physical education . Afuze etc in July 1974 he was the secretary to the group that was called by the federal government to formulate the physical education syllabus of the university primary education (UPE) in 1974 he was invited to head the panel of physical educators to prepare a syllabus of physical education for the grade two teachers college in the then western Nigeria because he was the first curriculum expert at that time.

In 1979, on the invitation of the West African council, prepared the syllabus for the secondary schools in Nigeria as the chairman of the committee. It must be noted that as far back as 1969, he with others successfully canvassed for the adoption of a syllabus that will reflect the geo-cultural background of Nigeria to replace the 1933 syllabus imported to the country by the British government. This was the beginning of 6-3-3-4 system of education used today.

Professor Dr Emiola Lasun

According to the pages of history, serious research work did not start in physical and health education in Nigeria until late ’60s and early ’70s. The great professor carried out a research in the history and administration of sports and physical education in Nigeria. It must be noted that he made an article on foundation of physical that he made an article on foundation of physical and health education research in the federal republic of Nigeria.

These are some of his achievements;

1.      He was the genesis of research work in physical and health education in Nigeria.

2.      He discovered more on the history and administration of sports and physical education in Nigeria.

3.      He also researched on the effect of exercise on growth and development.

How to Reference this article

Ademola, V. D (2019). Pioneers of physical education in Nigeria. Retrieved from https://www.youdread.com/2019/05/pioneers-of-physical-education-in.html