The funeral rites of the late sports icon and former Secretary General of the Supreme Council for Sports in Africa, Dr. Awoture Eleyae, has begun, with Nigerians, international athletes and sports administrators expected to grace his final journey to the great beyond.
 
A statement by the family indicates that the burial rites began with a memorial lecture at the National Institute for Sports (NIS), National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos, on November 22, 2023 and today, the family will hold an interdenominational service of songs at Dr. Eleyae’s family residence in Benin City, Edo State, by 4.00 p.m.

It will be followed by a similar service of songs at All Saints’ Anglican Church, Off Airport Road, Benin City, tomorrow by 4.00 p.m. Among those expected at various programmes lined up for the burial rites include Delta and Edo states Governors, Sheriff Oborevwori and Godwin Obaseki, officials of the Delta State Sports Commission, led by Tonobok Okowa, and their counterparts from Edo State, led by Yusuf Alli, management of Nigeria Institute of Sports (NIS), representatives of the Supreme Council for Sports in Africa (SCSA), religious and community leaders.
 
According to the programme, there will be a commendation service at All Souls’ Anglican Church, Benin City, on Friday, at 8.00 a.m. before a night of tributes the same day at his family compound, Uzere, Isoko South Local Council, Delta State, beginning from 5.00 p.m.   

The funeral/commendation service will be held on December 2, 2023, by 11.00 a.m. at Saint Paul’s Anglican Church, Uzere, to be followed by interment at the late Eleyae’s family compound, Uzere, while a reception will hold at Lakeside Resort, Uzere, immediately after interment.                       
The statement added that the family would hold a thanksgiving service on December 3, 2023, at Saint Paul’s Anglican Church, Uzere. The late Eleyae died on Thursday, July 20, 2023, in his residence in Benin City, where he lived since retirement from active service. He died at the age of 96.