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Tag: christian chukwu

  • Why Otedola paid Christian Chukwu’s medical bills

    Why Otedola paid Christian Chukwu’s medical bills

    Billionaire oil and gas magnate, Femi Otedola has thrown light on why he stepped in to help former Captain and Coach of the Super Eagles Christian Chukwu get quality medical treatment abroad.
    Chukwu returned to the country this week after undergoing surgery and sundry treatments at the Wellington Hospital, Circus Road, St John’s Woods London.
    Speaking when the former Nigerian defender fondly called ‘Chairman’ paid him a ‘thank you visit’ yesterday in Lagos, Otedola said he was moved when he heard about Chukwu’s plight.
    “I was moved when I heard about Mr Chukwu’s situation because I remember that about 20 years ago, my father, the late Sir Michael Otedola also suffered a stroke from ingesting fake aspirin.
    “ This experience has over time, made me appreciate that good medical attention can give a good and prolonged life and that was what motivated me to rise up and assist Mr Christian Chukwu,” observed Otedola who was represented at the event by Ag. Chief Operating Officer of Zenon Petroleum and Gas Company Limited Mr Phillip Akinola.
    While admitting that the treatment expenses of Chukwu cost him N36.6million, Otedola revealed that he has derived joy in spending the money God blesses him with, to assist a fellow Nigerian who has done great things for the country.
    “In my circle of friends, many spend up to N50million to drink champagne and generally enjoy life, but at the end of it all what happens? It passes out of the body as waste. For me, therefore (and I also tell my friends) it is important to use such money to benefit others and put a smile on the faces of as many people as we can,” he reasoned.
    Otedola also hinted that this gesture was not a one-off thing. “People may not be aware but Mr Peter Fregene, another former Green Eagles’ goalkeeper is currently being assisted with his medical situation and we are confident that he will also come out of the hospital strong and healthy.”
    Interestingly, Otedola’s large heart is not limited to former sportsmen and women alone.
    He is currently also footing the hospital bills of a popular actor, Mr Victor Olaotan in a Turkish hospital. Olaotan was a lead character in the popular TV soap opera series, Tinsel.
    “For me, it is just my nature to give back to the society and these philanthropic gestures are just a tip of the iceberg. I am humbled by the gratitude being expressed by Mr Chukwu but I believe that all thanks belong to God and I thank God for putting me in a position to be able to be of assistance,” Otedola stated.
    In his response, Chukwu said only God can repay Otedola’s generosity towards him.

    The ceremony was witnessed by Chukwu’s wife, daughter and younger sister who accompanied him to London during his treatment there.

     

  • JUST IN: Ex-Super Eagles coach, Christian Chukwu returns to Nigeria after medical trip in London [Photos]

    Former Super Eagles coach Christian Chukwu has returned from his medical trip in London.

    Recall that billionaire businessman and former chairman of Forte Oil, Femi Otedola had earlier donated N18 million for the foreign medical trip of Chukwu.
    He was flown to a London hospital in company of his wife on May 17 to commence the treatment.

  • NFF appoints Chukwu “Life Ambassador’ as son gets automatic employment

    NFF appoints Chukwu “Life Ambassador’ as son gets automatic employment

    Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State has directed the immediate employment of Emeka Chukwu, the first son of ailing former Super Eagles coach, Christian Chukwu.

    This is just as the President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Amaju Pinnick on Wednesday announced the appointment of the former coach as NFF Ambassador.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the appointments came simultaneously when the NFF boss in company of Ugwuanyi and the Chairman of Otedola Foundation visited Chukwu in his Enugu residence.

    The State Commissioner for Sports, Josef Udedi made the announcement after a closed door meeting between the delegation and the family of Chukwu.

    Udedi said that the engineering graduate would be given automatic employment by the state government.

    On his part, Pinnick said that the NFF would approve an appointment for the former skipper of the Green Eagles as a Life Ambassador of the organisation.

    He said that the management of the NFF would work out a stipend that would be paid to him.

    Udedi said that the football house was desirous of improving the welfare of ex-internationals.

    He said that one of the objectives of the proposed NFF Foundation was to build a database of every player that represented the country whether in the past or in time to come.

    NAN reports that a cheque of N18million was presented to Chukwu for his foreign medical trip by the Otedola Foundation.

  • Otedola donates N18m for Chukwu’s medical treatment

    Otedola donates N18m for Chukwu’s medical treatment

    The Chief Executive Officer, Forte Oil Plc., Femi Otedola, has donated N18 million for the foreign medical trip of ailing former Super Eagles coach, Christian Chukwu.

    Otedola, who was represented by the Chairman of Otedola Foundation, Phillip Akinola, made the donation on Wednesday during a visit to the Enugu residence of Chukwu.

    He said that his foundation would do everything possible to ensure that the former skipper of the Super Eagles regained his health.

    He added that the medical trip of the former coach and current Technical Director of Renters International FC, would be under the supervision of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).

    Earlier, the NFF President, Amaju Pinnick, said that the organisation was appreciative of all those that made them aware of the health challenges of Chukwu.

    Pinnick described Chukwu as a living legend, adding that the NFF would not allow him to die.

    He said that it was a situation like that that made the NFF under his administration to set up a foundation to cater for ex-footballers.

    “Without players there will not be NFF. The foundation will take care of him. We believe it is not just the responsibility of the state government alone,” he said.

    Pinnick said that the NFF was making consultation to fly Chukwu to London for surgery.

    “This cheque is to take care of his medical surgery. We are in touch with the British Consular to arrange the trip,” Amaju said.

    Responding, the son of the former coach, Emeka Chukwu, thanked the donor and the NFF for their interests in his father’s illness.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the delegation comprising Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State and members of the State Executive Council, after the visit proceeded to Nikea Specialist Hospital to access the medical records of Chukwu for onward transmission to a London hospital.

  • Christian Chukwu not a destitute old man – Enugu govt

    Christian Chukwu not a destitute old man – Enugu govt

    The Enugu State Government has so far been restrained in its reaction to the spate of misinformation and outright lies promoted by a friend of the iconic Enugu Rangers player, Mr. Christian Chukwu who is ill and has been hospitalised.

    This restraint is out of respect to the wishes of both the Chukwu family and the request of his doctors who wanted a space to quietly deal with the emergency situation that brought Chukwu to hospital on a stretcher.

    A press release by the Enugu State Commissioner for Information, Hon Ogbuagu Anikwe, highlighted the fact about the latest health condition of the football legend.

    “Today, however, Chairman Chukwu is walking with a stick and has granted interviews to the BBC and a couple of local media. It is on the strength of this that the Enugu State Government is now putting out the following information and clarifications to explain what is happening to Christian Chukwu and how it is being taken care of.”

    Anikwe summarised the issues surrounding Chukwu’s health as follows.

    1. Christian Chukwu, popularly called “Chairman” in his playing days, is NOT a destitute old man abandoned to his fate in the face of an emergency health situation. He is currently the Director of Sports in the Rangers Management Corporation, a public service job that enables him to meet his basic health needs.

    2. In the circumstance, Christian Chukwu is an employee of the Enugu State Government. This was one of the strategies that Rt. Hon. Dr. Ugwuanyi, the Governor of Chukwu’s home state of Enugu, designed to take care of sportsmen who had served the State or the nation in their youth.

    3. When Chukwu’s health situation was brought to the attention of his employer – Rangers Management Corporation – he was rushed to one of the best medical facilities in Enugu where a team of five (5) specialists have been attending to him.

    4. The management of Rangers Management Corporation immediately deposited N200,000 with this health facility to begin his treatment.

    5. On hearing about his health condition, Gov. Ugwuanyi gave an additional N1.5million to the Commissioner for Youth and Sports to give to the family — in order to ensure that the football legend did not lack anything that the team of specialists may require to manage his condition.

    6. The Governor has also given an additional N1million to the family when the doctors demanded for a further deposit, bringing the total amount disbursed by Gov. Ugwuanyi and the Rangers Management to the Chukwu family to N2.7million.

    7. The total bill submitted to date by the hospital for Chukwu’s treatment is N2.7million.

    8. To date, the doctors taking care of Chukwu have NOT released a medical report of his health condition to anyone, not even to the state government that has been picking up his bills. It is therefore curious how anyone without this information could have determined that (a) Christian Chukwu needs oversea medical care, and (b) the cost of this oversea care.

    9. This point needs restating: the medical director of the Hospital is also as surprised as we are that someone in the USA who is not privy to a medical report on Chairman Chukwu’s condition can determine that (a) Chukwu needs a treatment abroad (b) the cost of such treatment, and (c) even without Chukwu or any member of his family asking for a second medical opinion or for treatment abroad.

    10. Our intervention on this matter has become necessary to clear the air on the spate of misinformation, disinformation and outright mischief that otherwise well-intentioned commentators have continued to dish out, based on the misguided efforts of a friend of the football legend who is giving a false impression that Chukwu is a destitute old man, perhaps in a bid to whip up public sympathy that enables him meet his goal of raising money to help his friend.

    11. The Enugu State government notes that the negative stories surrounding Chukwu’s condition originated from the desperation of his friend in the US who is falsely claiming in his appeal fund drive message that Chukwu has been “abandoned.”

    12. Finally, if at any time the hospital doctors or the Chukwu family indicate that oversea treatment is required, the Enugu State Government will be notified and will respond appropriately.

  • Ex-Nigerian Captain, Christian Chukwu serious ill, needs $50,000 for medical trip abroad

    Ex-Nigerian Captain, Christian Chukwu serious ill, needs $50,000 for medical trip abroad

    Ex-Nigerian international and the then Green Eagles captain, Christian Chukwu is serious ill and needs $50,000 for medical trip abroad to save his life.

    The Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, disclosed this on Sunday, saying that the body has moved to provide support for Chukwu to overcome his present health challenges and get back on his feet soonest.

    President of the Nigeria Football Federation, Mr. Amaju Pinnick, who is in the United Kingdom, told thenff.com on Sunday that he had mandated the Chairman of Enugu State Football Association and Member of the NFF Executive Committee, Hon. Chidi Ofo Okenwa to pay a visit to the 1980 Africa Cup of Nations –winning team captain and get the details of his challenges and what needs to be done to return him to good health.

    “I am not in Nigeria presently but I have asked the NFF Acting President, Barr. Seyi Akinwunmi to take full charge and ensure that this matter is treated promptly. It was for this kind of development that I spoke about the welfare foundation for our legends at the 2nd AITEO-NFF Awards in Lagos on 1st April 2019.

    “The NFF would always be there to lend support to our legends in their hour of need,” Pinnick said.

    The NFF President, who is also 1st Vice President of CAF and President of AFCON, is on his way to Cairo, Egypt for final inspection of facilities for this year’s Africa Cup of Nations finals, as well as meetings of the AFCON organizing committee and CAF Exco ahead of Friday’s draw ceremony for the championship.

    Early reports on the health challenges of the former Nigeria defence stalwart indicated that there is need to raise the sum of $50,000 for his round trip to the United States of America, surgery, medication and general after-surgery care.

    A patron of Chukwu’s former club, Enugu Rangers FC, Mr. Benson Ezeomeogo Ejindu made this known in a Facebook post seeking to raise funds for the legend.

    Christian Chukwu captained the senior national team of Nigeria as they won their first –ever Africa Cup of Nations title in 1980, receiving the brand new Unity Cup from then President Shehu Shagari. He also captained the Enugu Rangers FC team that won the Africa Cup Winners’ Cup in 1977.

    Nicknamed ‘Chairman’ for the authority he exuded as he marshalled the defence and launched onslaughts on the opposition defence for club and country, Chukwu also served as assistant coach of the first team to win a FIFA World Cup trophy for Nigeria – the Golden Eaglets that triumphed at the FIFA U16 World Cup in China in 1985.

    He was also assistant coach of the team widely known as the Golden Generation – the 1994 Class of Super Eagles that qualified Nigeria for her first FIFA World Cup finals, won the Africa Cup of Nations title and reached the Round of 16 at the FIFA World Cup in America.

    Between 2002 and 2005, Chukwu was head coach of the Super Eagles, leading the team to win bronze medal at the 2004 Africa Cup of Nations in Tunisia.