Professor Oluwaseun Olanrewaju Omotayo of the University of Health and Allied Sciences (UHAS) in Ho has ended his 37-year career, in the field of Physical and health education.

He dedicated the last five years of his career to establishing and nurturing the School of Sport and Exercise Medicine of UHAS, where he was the pioneer Head of the Department of the Sport and Exercise Medical Sciences.

With about 70 scholarly publications to his credit, Prof. Omotayo is a recipient of several awards for contributing to the development of sports.

The awards included the Special Recognition Award of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in 1987, the International Council for Health, Physical Education, Recreation Sports & Dance (ICHPER.SD) Outstanding Sports Leadership Award (2005), and the Olympic Researcher Award at the London 2012 Olympic Games.

His farewell was marked with an exaugural lecture that celebrated his extensive contributions to the field and the University community.

In his lecture, Professor Omotayo reflected on his long tenure, sharing insights and experiences from his years of dedication to academia and research.

He stressed the need for state-of-the-art sports infrastructure in Africa to contribute to the scientific development of African Athletes, and as well formulate and implement strategies to prevent the decaying of sports facilities, particularly the ones used for mega games like the Africa Games.

He recommended the integration of Sports Psychology Practice in athletes' preparation in various sports competitions for better performance.

Professor Omotayo expressed his deep gratitude to the UHAS, colleagues, and students.

"It has been an honour and a privilege to serve at UHAS. I am proud of what we have accomplished together, and I am confident that the department will continue to thrive and excel in the years to come", he remarked.

The Vice-Chancellor of UHAS, Prof. Lydia Aziato, eulogised Prof. Omotayo for his steadfast commitment and significant impact on both the University and the field of sports and exercise medical sciences.

"Professor Omotayo's dedication to the University of Health and Allied Sciences has been nothing short of exemplary. His contributions to the Department of Sports and Exercise Medical Sciences have elevated our institution's standing in the academic and professional communities.

His legacy is one of excellence, passion, and unwavering commitment to the advancement of knowledge and the betterment of society,” Prof. Aziato said.