The first time Emmanuel Ifeajuna appeared before a crowd of thousands he did something no black African had ever done. He won a gold medal at an international sporting event. “Nigeria Creates World Sensation,” ran the headline in the West African Pilot after Ifeajuna’s record-breaking victory in the high jump at the 1954 Empire and Commonwealth Games in Vancouver. 

He was the pride of Nigeria and the whole continent. An editorial asked: “Who among our people did not weep for sheer joy when Nigeria came uppermost, beating all whites and blacks together?”

In the words of a former schoolmate, Ifeajuna had leaped “to the very pinnacle of Nigerian sporting achievement”. His nine track and field team-mates won another six silver and bronze medals, prompting a special correspondent to write “Rejoice with me, oh ye sports lovers of Nigeria, for the remarkable achievements of our boys”.

Ifeajuna, feted wherever he went, would soon see his picture on the front of school exercise books.

He was a great national hero who would remain Nigeria’s only gold medallist, in Commonwealth or Olympic sport, until 1966.

The next time Ifeajuna appeared before a crowd of thousands he was bare-chested and tied to a stake, facing execution before a seething mob. He had >>>>> Full story ...... http://360clickng..com/2016/06/sad-emmanuel-ifeajuna-from-commonwealth.html

Emmanuel Arinze Ifeajuna----


*He was the first Black African to win a gold medal at an international sports event when he won at the 1954 British Empire and Commonwealth Games.

*His winning mark and personal best of 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) was a games record and a British Empire record at the time.

RESPECT



Nota Bene:: His involvement in the 1966 coup ain't my business

Interesting

But what am I hearing about the former athlete now ?

Smellymouth:
Wow, I never knew

now we knw

Waoooo...... Interesting.....




*Thank God say I use dey book...

Thats very interesting, serious I have always been wondering what that picture ment since I was I primary school but no technology to show me... Even my teachers at times are dumb...

Waoh... Very informative... .... Kip it up

Really? Whaooo. He needs to be celebrated once again but oh no he forfeit it.