NIGERIAN SPORTS HEROES AND PROFESSIONALS

CONTENT

• Introduction
• Sports Heroes/Professionals in Nigeria and their Contributions

Introduction

The beginning of Physical and Health Education in Nigeria can be traced back to 1900 when the colonial masters first came into the country. Although some physical activities have been carried out in informal ways before the emergence of the colonial master. Activities such as fishing, riding horses, hunting, swimming, moonlight games, wrestling, climbing hills, traditional boxing, archery, spear throwing etc have been practised primitively. But physical training came into Nigeria through the colonial masters. All the above-mentioned primitive physical activities were formalized with rules and regulations, and training then was carried out to develop some people such as Police Force, Army Force and Soldiers.

Later on, Physical education was introduced to the school curriculum in some polytechnics and tertiary institutions such as YabaTech, University of Ibadan, University of Zaria, University of Ife etc. among the first graduate of physical education are –

1. Prof M.O. Ajisafe, from Nzuka University.

2. H.J. Ekperigin, Isaac Akioye, M.T. Adiuku, Awoture Eleyae, Anthony Omo Osagie, etc.

Physical Education became popular through the above-mentioned names because they ensure that it was included in the school curriculum.