National leader of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu yesterday backed Africa's Next Football Superstar project, initiated by Super Eagles captain, John Obi Mikel, and the John Obi Foundation.
Speaking after Mikel had presented a replica of Super Eagles No 10 jersey and a package containing details of the project to him at his Ikoyi residence, Tinubu said he was impressed and felt challenged that a Nigerian who grew through hardship to superstar status could look back and decide to assist the youths to become stars like himself.
“Having been identified and nurtured to the level of representing this country severally and grown to become a shining example to the youths of Nigeria and Africa generally, Mikel is wonderful to have thought it wise to create an environment that will produce superstars like him in future,” Tinubu said.
Mikel told the press that he was motivated by the need to help make stars out of the many talents that abound in Nigeria country and the African continent in general.
The Mikel Obi Foundation in partnership with a multi-platform broadcast network, Kwesé, on Sunday held a football clinic for children in Lagos.
The foundation held a football clinic which saw 150 boys and girls aged between 3 and 15 years from the Little Tigers Football Club receive first-hand coaching on football basics i.e.; ball passing, receiving, trapping, dribbling and shooting.
Mikel Obi said the clinic “Is about giving back to the community, to Nigeria. Home is where it all started for me. I will always want to give back to Nigeria, to my community”.
This article was most recently revised and updated 5 years ago
