Oyedeji has been a member of the senior men's Nigerian national basketball team since 1997. He contributed immensely to his national team's participation at the FIBA Africa Nations Cup in 1997, 1999, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2011, 2013 and 2015. He led Nigeria to its first ever AfroBasket trophy in Tunisia in 2015. Oyedeji won silver medals in 1997, 1999 and 2003 respectively during the FIBA Africa Nations Cup. He won the bronze medal at the 2005 FIBA Africa Championship and 2011 FIBA Africa Championship. Oyedeji has represented his home country in the All Africa Games winning bronze in 1999, 2007 and 2015, silver in 2003 and gold in 2011. He also played at the FIBA World Cup in 1999 and at the 2012 Summer Olympics. Oyedeji is the inaugural African player to ever feature in all major basketball tournaments on the global stage, including Olympic Games, World Cup, Commonwealth Games, All Africa Games, NBA, Euro-League, Asia Championships and South American basketball leagues. Oyedeji featured in the invitational tournament in South Africa where he captained the team and led them to victory in the finals. Nigeria's basketball team, D'Tigers, emerged overall winners of the 2015 Four Nations' invitational basketball tournament hosted by South Africa on Sunday 22 March 2015. Oyedeji, the long serving captain of the Nigerian Men's national team, emerged the MVP of the tournament. D'Tigers beat Mozambique 72-59 in their final game to win the inaugural tournament held at the Wembley Indoor Arena in Johannesburg. He retired from the Nigerian national basketball team several weeks before the 2016 summer Olympics in Brazil.
FIBA
The International Basketball Federation, FIBA, Central Board appointed Oyedeji, to the FIBA Players commission for the 2014-2019 term. Oyedeji's appointment resulted from his nomination by the Nigerian Basketball Federation in line with the criteria provided by the world governing body of basketball on his achievements on the court, as well as his tireless work ethic in developing the game not only in his home country, but also beyond Africa and across the globe. He is expected to serve in the newly inaugurated FIBA Players commission under the chairmanship of former Serbian International and NBA great, Vlade Divac. Oyedeji is also a member of the board of the Nigeria Basketball Federation.
Off the court
Oyedeji is a philanthropist and is committed to empowering youths using the tool of basketball as the medium for change. He is founder and CEO of his initiative, the Olumide Oyedeji Youth Foundation, established in 2000 as a nonprofit/charity corporation in the US, United Kingdom, and Nigeria. The focus of the organization is to help underprivileged, troubled, and at-risk teens make better choices and create a brighter future for all. OOYF has produced over 300 scholarships to youths since its inception in 2000. Over 40,000 youths from all over the world have participated in the programs since the foundation was established. It has operated in more than 30 cities in Nigeria, and over 20 different cities worldwide, including in South Africa, Nigeria, China, Spain, Mali, Germany, South Korea, Puerto Rico, and the United Kingdom. In November 2013, Oyedeji hosted a charity basketball clinic for youths, to advocate against gun and knife crimes and for keeping the streets safe, at the Damilola Taylor Centre in Peckham, South London. Oyedeji has planned and implemented numerous youth basketball camps, and helped troubled and at-risk teens throughout the world, including in the United States, United Kingdom, Nigeria, Germany, China, South Korea, South Africa, Ghana, Benin, and Togo. His basketball camps and various programs have been met with success and over the years he has personally supported the academic and athletic advancement of hundreds of teenagers.
Awards and honours
Oyedeji has won various awards for his humanitarian efforts and philanthropy. He is also a Laureus Global Ambassador, the first Nigerian and third African to be awarded this honour. For his efforts in preventing guns and knife crimes among youth and campaigning against gangs, Oyedeji was honoured as an Honorary London Metropolitan Police officer.
Personal life
Oyedeji had his secondary education at Loyola College, Ibadan where he started playing as a member of the school's senior basketball team. Oyedeji is married to Adegoke Fajemisin. They have five children together.
