Olowu was born in Lagos, Nigeria, on 7 June 1924 to B. M. S. Olowu and R. A. Olowu (née Tinubu). He is the first grandson of Madam Tinubu and Saka Tinubu, part of a wealthy Yoruba family. He attended Saint Paul’s Primary School, Breadfruit Street, Lagos, where in 1936 he began his sporting career. He represented his school in the Empire Day Athletics in commemoration of the British Empire Day, which was celebrated in Britain and its colonies before the independence of Nigeria in 1960. He later attended CMS Grammar School, Lagos, where he was the sports prefect (Prefectus Ludorum). He started working as a civil servant before he won a Federal Government scholarship to study physical education at Loughborough College, Leicestershire, England, in 1952. He graduated with honours in 1955.
Olowu was among the first group of Nigerians to participate in the Olympic Games.
Olowu was among the first group of Nigerians to participate in the Olympic Games. He represented the country twice at the Olympics in 1952 and 1956, respectively, in the long jump and relay race. He also took part in the Commonwealth Games of 1950, 1954 and 1958. He won silver medals in the long jump and sprint relay at the 1958 edition.
“Olowu was among the first group of Nigerians to participate in the Olympic Games. He represented the country twice at the Olympics in 1952 and 1956, respectively, in the long jump and relay race.”
Olowu served in athletics in many other capacities. He was a prominent member of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) for several years. He was an official at the 8th Commonwealth Games in Kingston, Jamaica, in 1966. He was the Nigerian team manager for the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montréal, Canada. All the African countries eventually boycotted the Canada games because of the presence of the then-apartheid South Africa at the games. He served as the chairman of the Lagos State Sports Council. He was the chief starter at the 1973 All-Africa Games held in Lagos, Nigeria. He also served as captain and as a coach of the national teams at various times.
After he retired from his athletics career, Olowu worked in the Nigerian prison system, but his love for sports was never far behind. He set up the sports complex at the Nigerian Prison in Kirikiri, Lagos, where he worked for some years and set up the then Prisons Athletics Club, which produced many athletes for Nigeria. Olowu was married to Aminat Olowu (née Abina) until her death. He was the Chairman of the Olowu Descendants Union, and he was also the head of the Tinubu Family. He had many children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Olowu died on 14 August 2019 at his daughter’s family hospital and was buried the next day according to Muslim rites. He was 95 years old.
I attended the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.A. I lodged in the same hotel as the United States of America Basketball Team (“The Dream Team). When I bumped into 6 ft, 7 inches tall Hakeem Olajuwon (“The Dream”), the first thing he told me on learning my name was that he was an Area Boy from Isale Eko!!.
He added that his mother had lost eleven pregnancies before the legendary Dr Moses Adekoyejo Majekodunmi took her under his wings and consigned her to bed under special care for several months at Massey Street Hospital for children.
A former professional basketball player of dual Nigeria–United States nationality.
Hakeem Olajuwon was born on January 21, 1963, in Lagos, Nigeria. He is a former professional basketball player who held dual Nigerian and American citizenship and played as a centre. His nickname is “The Dream”.
Hakeem Olajuwon attended the University of Houston for college, where he led the Houston Cougars to the Final Four three times. In the 1984 NBA draft, Hakeem Olajuwon was selected by the Houston Rockets with the first overall pick. He played for the Houston Rockets and the Toronto Raptors during his career. In the 1993-94 season, Olajuwon, who was named the NBA Most Valuable Player Award winner that season, led the Rockets to an NBA Championship. He became the first player in NBA history to win the regular season MVP, the Defensive Player of the Year Award, and the Finals MVP (FMVP) in the same season. The Rockets won consecutive NBA Championships, defeating the New York Knicks, led by Patrick Ewing, and the Orlando Magic, led by Shaquille O’Neal. During his NBA career, Olajuwon was selected to the NBA All-Star team 12 times, the All-NBA First Team 6 times, the All-NBA Second Team 3 times, and the All-NBA Third Team 3 times. He won the NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award twice, was selected to the NBA All-Defensive First Team 5 times, and the NBA All-Defensive Second Team 4 times. He led the league in rebounding twice and in blocks three times. In 1996, Olajuwon won an Olympic gold medal with the USA Dream Team and was named to the 50 Greatest NBA Players of All Time.
