Nigeria’s sports minister, Sunday Akinlabi Dare on Wednesday extended welfare packages, food items and a monthly stipends of N10,000 each to the mothers of late former Super Eagles’ stars, Rashidi Yekini and Samuel Sochukwuma Okwaraji, megasportsarena.com reports.
This was disclosed by the minister’s representative, Olaitan Shittu, on a visit to Alhaja Risikat Yekini at Ijagbo, near Offa in Kwara State, to commiserate with her over eight years remembrance of her son’s death.
While presenting Ramadan gifts to Alhaja Yekini, including a 50kg bag of rice, 10 kg bag of wheat and six tins of beverage to the aged mother, Shittu recalled that the minister had also been at the late striker’s mother’s residence in September 2019; and promised that the minister will extend same gesture to the family of late Okwaraji, who died during action for the Eagles against Angola in a World Cup qualifier on August 12, 1989.
The visit marked a highpoint in days of memorial activities and events for the 1993 African Footballer of The Year, who scored 37 times for the Eagles from 58 games, including Nigeria’s first ever goal at the World Cup, against Bulgaria at USA ’94, but died on May 4, 2012, in Ibadan.
Alhaja Yekini said in response: “I have been abandoned for a long time and have not seen any help from anyone. I was hospitalised for a few days some months ago and last month. I did cater for myself despite scarce resources. I need help from Nigerians.
“This minister has done very well, especially remembering me in this holy month of Ramadan. Since my son died, it has been very tough for me because I do not have any help from people. Rashidi’s siblings are not doing well too, so I was left to struggle for life every day.”
