Billionaire businessman, Femi Otedola, has fulfilled his promise to foot the medical bills of ex-Nigerian footballer and coach, Christian Chukwu’s surgery.
A $50,000 cheque was presented to Chukwu on Wednesday morning in Enugu by Philip Akinola, the COO of Zenon Petroleum and Gas Ltd, one of Otedola’s companies.
Present at the handing-over were Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, the governor of Enugu state, Amaju Pinnick, the chairman of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and sports journalist, Onochie Anibeze.
This development was confirmed by TheCable on Wednesday.
Speaking to TheCable via a call, Otedola is quoted to have said: “The governor just called to thank me immensely and I spoke with Christian Chukwu too. He will be flown abroad next week. I told him he will be fine and I will make sure he is provided with the best health services.”
Christian Chukwu, with support from the Enugu state government, has undergone an initial surgery in Nigeria.
He captained Nigeria to its first Africa Cup of Nations success in 1980, also leading the Enugu Rangers FC team that won the Africa Cup Winners Cup in 1977.
Chukwu later served as the assistant coach of the first Nigerian team to win a FIFA World Cup trophy at the FIFA U16 World Cup in China in 1985.
This is not the first time Femi Otedola would sponsor the treatment of an ailing star.
In February, he released $100,000 for the treatment of sick Nollywood actor, Victor Olaotan.