On Monday February 14, 2022, Okwuluora, a broadcast journalist with huge Facebook following in the South-East, put up a post reporting how he found a Nigerian Olympic Gold Medalist trying to make ends meet at a taxi park in Abakpa, Enugu.
Kingsley Obiekwu, who played alongside Kanu Nwankwo and other great Super Eagles stars, had been using his car, a Toyota Sienna, as a taxi to drive passengers to Nsukka in order to earn some money to look after himself and his family.
The former Nigerian international said he had been having it tough since 2008 when he tried to settle down in Nigeria. Obiekwu, fondly called ‘Shagari Udoji’ by football lovers in Nigeria, told Okwuluora of his struggles as a coach and a taxi driver in Nigeria.
A national hero who helped the country achieve the greatest football achievement yet on the global stage now had to settle for a difficult daily commute in order to feed himself and his family. Obiekwu also told Okwuluora that he is willing to shoot a documentary to instruct younger persons with his personal story.
“Got OFF the phone now with KINGSLEY Obiekwu. His voice brought tears to my eyes,” Okwuluora wrote. “He is willing to shoot a documentary to tell his story and impact younger generation. He called me Okwuluora. He actually remembered the day we meet. I am here doing this work because there’s nowhere to go. E pain me. Shagasha❤❤❤❤”
On Wednesday evening, Okwuluora posted an update confirming a ₦2million gift received by Obiekwu from Ahmed Musa, the current captain of the Super Eagles of Nigeria.
However, three days after Okwuluora’s Facebook post, the Federal Ministry of Sports and Youth Development is yet to reach out to Obiekwu.
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