Billionaire businessman Femi Otedola has paid tribute to late football legend, Christian Chukwu, recalling how he once intervened to give the former national team captain a “new lease of life” through critical medical support.
In a heartfelt post shared on Sunday, Otedola mourned the passing of Chukwu, who died on Saturday, April 12, at the age of 74. He described the news as a “rude shock,” noting that Chukwu’s achievements remain “legendary and fully etched in the annals of our national history.”
Chukwu, fondly known as “Chairman,” captained the Green Eagles to Nigeria’s historic first Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title in 1980. In 2019, he was diagnosed with prostate cancer, which affected his mobility. At the time, his family launched a GoFundMe campaign to raise funds for his treatment. However, it was Otedola who stepped in and covered the $50,000 cost for Chukwu’s treatment at Wellington Hospital in London.
“Back in 2019, when he was diagnosed with prostate cancer that affected his legs, I stepped in with the necessary support so as to enable him receive comprehensive care and medical treatment in the United Kingdom,” Otedola wrote.
“Thankfully, that intervention and opportunity saw him through a very challenging time and gave him a new lease of life. My condolences go out to his entire family and to his fans all over the world. May you all find comfort during this difficult time.”
Otedola also remembered Charles Bassey, another member of the 1980 AFCON-winning squad, who passed away just hours after Chukwu. Bassey had suffered from a spinal cord injury—“nerve root compression”—after a car accident in 1986. In 2019, he made a public plea for financial support due to complications that made walking difficult. By 2021, Bassey confirmed that the Femi Otedola Foundation had funded his spinal surgery.
Meanwhile, Governor Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra State also paid tribute to Chukwu, describing him as “an iconic player, a colossus, a formidable defender, and a leader of men.”
In a condolence message issued by his Press Secretary, Christian Aburime, Soludo praised Chukwu’s enduring legacy in Nigerian football.
“He captained the legendary Enugu Rangers International Football Club and the national team—the Green Eagles, now the Super Eagles—with unrelenting dedication and exemplary skill,” Soludo said.
“Chukwu’s leadership on the field earned him the nickname ‘Chairman’, inspiring generations of footballers and igniting a passion for the beautiful game across the country. His tenure as coach of the Super Eagles further solidified his legacy, as he guided the team with wisdom and tactical acumen,” he added.
Soludo condoled with Chukwu’s immediate family and the broader Nigerian football community, praying for his soul to rest in peace.
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