July 25 of last year will forever remain a red-letter day in the life of Professor Oluwaseun Olanrewaju Omotayo, a proud Nigerian scholar and global trailblazer. On that day, the Cedi Auditorium of the University of Health and Allied Sciences (UHAS), Ho, Ghana, came alive as he delivered his Exaugural Lecture titled “Psychologizing in Sports: My 37-Year Odyssey.”
It was not just another university event. It was a historic moment — because Professor Omotayo became the first Professor of Sports Psychology in the world to deliver an Exaugural Lecture, and also the first person ever to do so in Ghana.
For the audience that filled the hall that day, it was more than a lecture. It was the story of a man who has spent 37 years helping athletes win — not just with their strength, but with their minds.
From Curiosity to Career
Professor Omotayo’s love for sports started early in life. Nevertheless, while others were drawn to the physical side, he became more curious about what happens in an athlete’s mind. He would often ask, “Why do some players perform better under pressure while others lose focus?”
That curiosity led him into sports psychology, a field that was still strange in Nigeria and across Africa at the time. After studying Physical and Health Education, he decided to explore the mental side of sports performance — a decision that would shape the rest of his life.
Breaking New Ground
In those early days, not many people believed in sports psychology. Coaches, sports officials, and other stakeholders have often held to the view that training and fitness are the primary pathways to peak performance in sports. However, Prof Omotayo thought otherwise and went all out to prove that mental strength was as important as physical fitness.
The journey was not easy. Funding for research was scarce, and getting materials was difficult. However, he kept pushing. He travelled far and wide, meeting athletes, coaches, and teams to understand what made winners tick.
With time, his ideas began to gain traction and slowly changed how athletes prepared for major national and international competitions. Whether it is the National Sports Festival or any other international competition, sports psychology is now an integral part of athletes’ training schedules.
This has helped many athletes learn to stay calm, focused, and confident when they come under pressure to perform. These lessons have turned the athletes into better competitors.
Teacher, Mentor, and Trailblazer
As a lecturer and mentor, Professor Omotayo has trained and guided many young people — coaches, students, and athletes — who are now spreading his ideas across Africa. His philosophy is simple: “You can train the body, but without training the mind, the victory may not last.”
During his time as Head of the School of Sports and Exercise Medicine at UHAS, he championed the inclusion of sports psychology in sports education. Thanks to Prof. Omotayo’s strong advocacy, many African universities are now beginning to understand that winning starts from the mind.
Lessons from a 37-Year Journey
Looking back, Professor Omotayo’s story is one of passion, patience, and purpose. He held on to an idea when very few people believed in it — and turned it into a movement that has transformed sports in Africa.
As he rounded off his lecture to a standing ovation that July afternoon, one thing was clear — his journey was far from over. For him, the goal has never been just to produce champions, but to build strong minds. Because, as he always says, “Behind every great athlete, there is a greater mind.”
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