- By News Editor
Oluyemi Kayode was an athlete who specialized in sprints – 100 meters and 200 meters. The high point of his athletics career was at the 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games where he was part of the Nigerian 4×100 meteres quartet that won a silver medal for Nigeria
The quartet was made up of Davidson Ezinwa, Osmond Ezinwa, Olapade Adeniken and Kayode who came second behind the American quartet of Dennis Mitchel, Leroy Burrell, Michael Marsh and legendary Carl Lewis.
The feat of Kayode and other members of the relay team was celebrated all over the world as they went on to set a new African record in the 4×100 metres relay race.
Late sport icon, Oluyemi Kayode status at the stadium in Ado-Ekiti.
Unfortunately, the sun set for US-based Kayode, a native of Ado-Ekiti, when he died in an auto accident on October 1, 1994 on the 34th anniversary of his country’s independence in faraway Arizona, United States of America.
He was on his way to a venue where he and other Nigerians had scheduled to celebrate the 34th independence anniversary when another driver ran into his car, killing him in the process at the age of 26.
His remains were brought to his hometown by the Nigerian government on October 18, 1994 and he was buried amidst tears by Nigerians and many relatives and friends on October 19, 1994.
His mortal body was interred at Saint Andrew’s Anglican Church Cemetery, Oke-Ila, Ado-Ekiti.
To immortalise him, the government named the then Ado-Ekiti sports stadium after him, hence, it became the Oluyemi Kayode Stadium.
His achievements:
He represented Nigeria in the African Championship more than three times (between 1993-1994) and won Gold medals in 100 and 200 metres.
He was a member of the Nigerian relay team that won the won the silver medal prize for Nigeria at the 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games.
He also participated in world competition between July and August 1994 in Canada and won Silver and Gold medals in 100 metres and 200 metres respectively.
Oluyemi Kayode was born to the family of Chief Balemo and Chief Alarierin, Oke-Ila Street of Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State.
