- As NFF Announces N30,000 Monthly Stipend for Yekini, Samuel Okwaraji’s Mums
By Akanimo Kufre (The New Diplomat’s A/Ibom|C/River Correspondent)
The Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, has placed the mother of late Super Eagles striker, Rashidi Yekini, Alhaja Sikiratu, on a monthly stipend of N10,000.
The Representative of the Minister at the donation ceremony, Olaitan Shittu, disclosed this in Ijagbo, near Offa in Kwara on Wednesday, when he donated Ramadan gift on behalf of the minister to the aged mother.
The Sports Minister, Mr Sunday Dare, also donated the sum of N50,000 as part of the Ramadan gift to the aged mother on Wednesday.
Shittu explained that it was not the first time the Minister was reaching out to Alhaja Sikiratu Yekini as he was also at Mama Yekini’s residence in September, 2019.
Responding, Alhaja Yekini who spoke in her local dialect (Yoruba), thanked the Minister and prayed fervently for him.
“I have been abandoned for a long time and have not seen any help from anyone.
“I was hospitalised for few days, some months ago and I did catered for myself despite scarce resources, even last month, I received treatment from the hospital.
“I need help from Nigerians, but 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 everyday” Alhaja Sikiratu Yekini said.
Late Rashidi Yekini who died eight years ago in Ibadan after retiring from football, had his professional career, spanned more than two decades and was mainly associated with Vitória de Setúbal in Portugal, but he also played in six other countries besides Nigeria.
Yekini scored 37 goals as a Nigerian international from 58 games and represented the nation in five major tournaments, including two World Cups where he scored the country’s first-ever goal in the competition against Bulgaria in the USA 94 World Cup.
He was also named the African Footballer of the Year in 1993.
Items donated include, 50kg bag of rice, 10kg bag of wheat, six tins of Milo as well as the sum of N50,000.
Also, the Nigeria Football Federation, on Thursday, announced plans to pay N30,000 monthly each to mothers of two ex-internationals, Yekini and Samuel Okwaraji.
Before NFF’s announcement, the Federal Ministry of Youths and Sports Development had on Wednesday placed both matriarchs on a monthly stipend.
NFF tweeted, “In furtherance to and in appreciation of the recent pronouncement of the Minister of Sports, Sunday Dare, to put the mothers of the two late ex-internationals on a monthly stipend.
“The NFF has decided to support this noble initiative with a further monthly stipend of N30,000 to each of the two matriarchs.
“In addition, the NFF will henceforth review the situation of surviving mothers of our ex-internationals that died in active service for the country and resolve on what to do for them on a monthly basis.”
