His Story
Fagbemi, former NFA scribe dies at 76
Chief Olatunji Fagbemi, popularly called Tunji Fagbemi was born to Chief Daniel Alabi Fagbemi, the Balogun of Methodist Church, Oke Igbira (Now Oke-Aiyedun) and Chief (Madam) Dorcas Adeyemi Fagbemi, the Osemawe Obirin of Temidire, Ikole Ekiti on 5th July, 1933.
He started his elementary education in the early forties at the Methodist School, Odo Oke Igbira (now Aiyedun), in Ekiti State and passed his first School Leaving Certificate with merits in 1948.
He was educated at the prestigious, Christ's School, Ado-Ekiti between 1950 and 1955. He developed his interest in Sports in this school, under the tutelage of the now departed, but still highly revered Chief J. O. Oshuntokun.
After his Secondary education at Christ's School, he took up first paid employment-a clerical appointment, on 19th December, 1956, with the Public Works Department, now Ministry of Works and Transport of the now defunct Western Region of Nigeria.
It was while working for the then regional government that he met a seasoned administrator, Chief J. K. Ayeni, who encouraged him to further his education since, being on a salary of £9.10 was not enough. Chief Fagbemi then started saving towards his University education.
The intensely focused Chief Tunji Fagbemi, was admitted to the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, in 1961 to study Health and Physical Education with English as Minor. He was one of early “local experimental” products of Nigeria’s and Africa’s most renowned educationists, Professor Aliu Babatunde Fafunwa in then only indigenous Faculty or of Education in the country, then at the University of Nsukka. He graduated with a Bachelors Degree in 1965.
On graduation from the University of Nigeria, Chief Tunji Fagbemi joined the staff of Ilesa Grammar School on 12th June, 1965. Apart from handling his professional subject, Sports & Physical Education, he also taught English and Biology up to the senior classes.
Chief Fagbemi, the sports aficionado, brushed up all sports-loving boys and girls in around that that part of regional Nigeria. His efforts saw Ilesha Grammar Shool becoming the lion of all secondary schools in the Ijesha and Oshun Divisions of the then Nigerian Western Reggeion, thereby raising the standard of all games and sports in the School and the Division.
During the Nigerian civil war, in 1968, he served under International Red Cross Society, for six months in the war front and was made the Red cross Sector Commandant. During his lifetime, Chief Fagbemi regularly recalls with relish, the rousing welcome he was given by His Royal Highness Oba Peter Agunlejika, the then Owa Obokun of Ijesha land, on his return from the Nigerian war front.
In 1971, having served his legal bond for five years with Ilesha Grammar School, on account of the regional government scholarship he enjoyed in the University, Chief Fagbemi headed back to his alma mater-Christ's School, Ado-Ekiti.
It was from Ado-Ekiti he had had proceeded to the University 1956. Chief Fagbemi had been invited by the Principal and Old boys of Christ's School, to transfer his service to his alma mater.
By 1971, at Christ School, Ado Ekiti, Chief Fagbemi had become:
— An Old boy of the School
— A senior Tutor in the School
— A member of Parents Teachers Association
— A member of "Ekiti Cultural Solidarity" whose aim was to raise the standard of the school.
Chief Fagbemi was a favourite tutor among his students, particularly because of his interest and prowess in the teaching of English and especially Yoruba language. He was indeed 'confered' with the title of "ALAGBA NINU EDE YORUBA". On account of his sound understanding and delivery of Yoruba language. Many of Chief Fagbemi's students made distinctions in the Advanced Level Certificate Examination and West African School Certificate Examinations.
Chief Tunji Fagbemi travelled far and wide in Nigeria. During his service in Christ's School, the Chief covered all. towns and villages of EKITILAND and all states of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
He assumed duty at the National Sports Commission on 30th August, 1974. The same year, he was granted a post graduate sponsorship to study Advanced Administration at North London Polytechnic. On the completion of his post graduate course in London, he was appointed Secretary-General of Nigeria Football Association in 1974.
In 1986 Chief Fagbemi was appointed the Zonal Coordinator of National Sports Commission in-charge of Anambra, Imo, Rivers, Cross Rivers and Akwa-Ibom.
Two years later, in 1988, Chief Fagbemi was again appointed Secretary-General of the Nigeria Football Association, 14 years after his first tenure. His second tenure saw more admirable changes in the administration of football in Nigeria. Some believe Chief Fagbemi’s second coming actually laid the foundation for the many global laurels Nigeria won in the nineties.
In 1990, Chief Fagbemi was appointed the Principal of Nigeria’s National Institute for Sports, a post he held until his meritorious and well deserved retirement in May of the same year.
Chief Fagbemi was married and left 12 children and 29 grand children.