Meet Another Coach Tobias Igwe aka Toblow's New Discovering, Sprinter, Oma Mpama

Renowned athletics Coach Tobias Igwe a.k.a 'Toblow' is known as one of Nigeria’s most-achieving athletic coaches. The 64-year-old won laurels for Nigeria and produced champions in local and international events. 

He successfully guided Nigerian athletes to three Commonwealth and Olympic Games respectively and returned with laurels. And has yet discover another sprinter, a University of Nigeria (UNN) student, Oma Mpama who recently won bronze medal for her school at the just concluded NUGA Games in Benue. In this interview with AsbGist Nigeria, Oma Mpama, revealed her excitement in having the veteran athletic coach as her coach and what the future holds for her. Read below:

How did you meet Coach Tobias Igwe?

I met him at the NUGA Zonal trials at Nsukka UNN

You mean the just concluded NUGA Games in Benue?

Yes, but there was a zonal trials at each zone before the finals at Benue state, that was where i met coach Igwe

So how was your experience at the NUGA Games in Benue?

Well it was all good, being my first competitive sporting event it was an experience of a life time i must say, but i look forward to a bigger event. And getting a bronze in my very first competitive sporting event, I can say the future is big.

Meeting Nigeria's most achieving athletic coach, Tobias Igwe aka "Toblow', was It what inspires you to go as far as getting a bronze medal at the NUGA Games in Benue 2017?

Hmmm, well i have always love sport and always prayed for a coach who would coach me to world class, the coming of coach Igwe was an answered prayer for me and an added inspiration of course.

Oma Mpama won three gold medals during a track & field event in her school, UNN, last year

Wow! Are you trying to tell us, he is officially your coach?

Yes,  he is

That's amazing, congratulations!

Thank you

You are welcome. Still on Coach Toblow, He is currently 64 years old if am not mistaken, don't you think he is too old to be your coach?

For me i don't think coaching has any age limit, and when we speak of coach Igwe, age has got nothing to do with him producing another champion, even at his age he still keep to training, time, and even better at his techniques.  Like the saying goes, "What an old man sees sitting, even when the young climbs the highest tree he can't see it". So for me, he is still the best athletic coach we have in the country.

Can you tell us when you started your career in athletics?

I used to go with my primary and secondary school athletics team back then.  But picked it up as a career in 2016

What are your achievement so far?

My achievements so far. UNN Inter Faculty Games, I got two gold medals for 400m and 800m respectively, and the just concluded NUGA 2017 in Benue, I got a bronze for 800m

Was coach Igwe with you at the just concluded NUGA Games in Benue?


No, he could not make it, but he was always calling to checkup on me and also giving instructions on how i should go about the competition.  Indeed he was my greatest encouragement all through the Games.

Can you tell us about your educational background?

I finished my primary school at Adeola Nursery and Primary School Kubwa, Abuja, then my junior secondary at Junior Secondary school kubwa Abuja,  then I moved forward to Federal Government College, Rubochi, for my senior secondary, and am currently studying Music at University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu state.

So what level are you?

Am in 200 level

How do you feel having a top Nigerian Veteran Athletic coach in person of Tobia Igwe?

I feel honoured, words can not describe, i am indeed grateful to God.

One of the most prominent discovering of coach Tobia Igwe aka Toblow is Mary Onyali Omagbemi who won bronze in 1992 and 1996 Olympic Games. Do you see yourself getting to the height she got to or even surpassing that?

Yes I do,  I am giving my 100 percent in all, I see myself getting there and doing better than she ever did, I have got the grace of God in Abundance for me and my steps are ordered by God. I am getting there am positive about it, yes.

Mary Onyali

Coach Tobias Igwe went back to the grassroots and discovered Mary Onyali during an inter-house sports of her secondary school back in the 80s in Lagos.

The athlete, model and mother went ahead to win bronze medal in the 4 × 100 m relay at the 1992 Olympic Games and in the 200 m at the 1996 Olympic Games. She also won the 1994 Commonwealth Games 100 metres title, representing Nigeria.

Mary Onyali pictured in 2016

Am more than positive about that too. And I must say, congratulations!

Thank you very much, and thanks for believing in me.

No problem. One word to those reading this, please?

Thank you all for your support love and encouragement.