Poised to further consolidate its partnership deal with top Nigerian
Professional Football League, NPFL side, FC Ifeanyi Ubah as well as show
its commitment to the partnership, English Premiership club, West Ham
United donated the sum of £35,000 to the Anambra State Football
Association and Okongwu Memorial Grammar School, Nnewi, the alma mater
of President of FC Ifeanyi Ubah. Dr. Ifeanyi Ubah.
In line with its full support for the Football Made
in Anambra '1 Family - 1 Footballer' project billed to kick-off in
December 2016, West Ham United donated £30,000 to ANSFA, even as it
feted Okongwu Memorial Grammar School with £5,000, all geared towards
the development of youths and sports in Anambra State and Nigeria in
general.
The Ifeanyi Ubah Foundation also threw the school children into a
heightened frenzy, complementing the benevolent gesture of West Ham
United, by making a donation of N1million to Okongwu Memorial Grammar
School.
Recall that the Hammers' delegation led by Managing Director, Angus
Kinnear had earlier been in Lagos, where an interactive session
bordering on the essence of the partnership was held with journalists.
The contingent led by Dr. Ifeanyi Ubah made their first stop at the
Igwe's Palace, where they paid homage to Igwe K.O.N Orizu III (Igwe
Nnewi), who was delighted to receive them. They made another stop at Dr.
Ifeanyi Ubah's alma mater, Okongwu Memorial Grammar School where they
met with ecstatic school children before heading to Ifeanyi Ubah Games
Village for the epoch-making launch of 'Football Made in Anambra' and
talent hunt programme.
Speaking at the event, Kinnear described Dr. Ubah as a man of vision and
full of ideas. He said "we found FC Ifeanyi Ubah worthy of our
partnership as we share the same vision and bright ideas. We are
extremely delighted to seal our first partnership in Africa and we could
not have made a better choice. Football is not just a game because it
has the capacity to turn lives around for the best". He added that his
club, West Ham United has a long history of youth football and as such
would collaborate with FC Ifeanyi Ubah to develop the budding talents in
Nigeria.
A clearly elated Dr. Ubah thanked Mr. Kinnear and WestHam for the
confidence reposed on his capacity to boost the WestHam brand in Africa.
He noted that he had no doubt that West Ham, who are renowned for
having one of the best football academies having produced the likes of
Lampard and Rio Ferdinand would add so much value to the club, adding
that Anambra state has so much to benefit from the partnership,
particularly the 'Made in Anambra Football' project which is expected to
engage 50, 000 families in the state.
The event was graced by the supportive presence of the H.E. The
Executive Governor of Anambra State, Chief Dr. Willie Obiano, ably
represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Chief Solochukwu
Lobelu, HRH Igwe K.O.N III (Igwe of Nnewi), who was presented with a
West Ham jersey, accompanied by some members of his cabinet, Crown
Prince, Obi Orizu, Senator Alphonsus Igbeke, two time African footballer
of the year and Olympic Gold Medalist, Kanu Nwankwo, Managing Director
of My Radio FM, Ambassador Uche Ogbuagu, Nollywood actor and comedian,
Mr Ibu amongst a host of others from the entertainment industry.
Highlight of the Nnewi visit was the unveiling of the Football Made in
Anambra Project, which saw over 1,000 school children from across the 21
local government areas in Anambra State, fully kitted in their Football
Made in Anambra jerseys. It became a day to remember for the school
kids when Dr. Ifeanyi Ubah announced that the jerseys, soccer boots and
footballs that were given to them for the event were gifts from the
Anambra Football Association, stating that it was the first step toward
actualizing the 1 Family - 1 Footballer initiative.
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