THE leadership of the National Sports Commission (NSC) and the Nigeria Olympc Committee (NOC) have joined other Nigerians in mourning the late sports philanthropist, Molade Okoya Thomas, who died on Monday aged 79.

  The NSC described the death of the business mogul as a great loss to Nigeria, especially, Nigeria’s sports family.

  NSC Director General, Gbenga Elegbeleye, who said he was shocked by the news of the death of the late philanthropist, disclosed that Thomas has left an indelible mark in sports’ promotion and sponsorship, especially in the game of table tennis, which he would be forever remembered for.

   “The National Sports Commission commiserates with the family of late sports philanthropist and business mogul, Chief Molade Okoya Thomas, on the death of their beloved one, whose death is a great loss to the country and Nigerian sports in particular. When I heard of the news (on Monday) I was shocked. We loved him but God loved him most and he will be sorely missed by all of us.

   “We pray that God Almighty in His infinite mercies will give the family the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss”, Elegbeleye prayed.

 To the NOC President, Habu Gumel, his death is a bigger loss to sports

  Gumel, who said he was devastated on learning of the death of the sponsor of the longest running table tennis championship in Nigeria, the Asoju Oba Table Tennis Championship, added that the Olympic family would miss him dearly.

  “He was a philanthropist par excellence. Not only did he give to sports, he inspired and encouraged young athletes and was present to watch Nigerians do battle against other countries in and out of the country.  He was a cheerful giver who turned the lives of many youths around for the better,’’ he said.

  NOC Secretary General, Tunde Popoola, was equally hard-hit for words on the Asoju Oba. He, however, recalled how the late Chief Okoya Thomas’ Asoju Oba Table Tennis Championship had gone uninterrupted since the first edition in 1968.

  ‘’Tunde Obisanya, one of the greatest Table Tennis greats this country ever produced, won the inaugural edition and ruled Africa over and over again. I remember that Egyptians could not come to terms with the flurry of strokes of Obisanya. 

  “Many others like Atanda Musa ‘Mansa’ Musa, Majekodumi, Kubirat Owolabi, Funke Oshonaike and other Tennis greats benefitted from the sponsorship of Chief Okoya Thomas.

  “Tell me, where else can we get a man so generous like Chief Okoya Thomas in Nigerian sports?’’ Popoola asked rhetorically.