The Sun News On-line

Lagos State government may have incurred the wrath of gangling Portsmouth of England striker and Super Eagles captain, Kanu Nwankwo, for inviting Manchester United captain, Rio Ferdinand to Nigeria.

Ferdinand, who led Man U to win both the 2008 English Premiership Shield and the Champions League Cup, was invited to Nigeria by the Lagos State government as a role model to inspire young ones for the Street Soccer Tournament that was organised by the state.

But Kanu, unarguably, one of the most successful African players of our time, while assessing the idea of inviting Ferdinand for the event by the Governor Raji Fashola-led government, said the purported amount used in flying in the Man U player to Lagos was a colossal waste.

Kanu, a UNICEF Ambassador, who was guest to Search and Groom and UNICEF at an event organised by the duo organisations to mark the Children’s Day celebration, averred that the taxpayers’ money, which was sunk into the venture of bringing Ferdinand to the country, should have been used to uplift the lives of the citizenry.

"The idea of Street Soccer is commendable I must confess, but what is the significance of inviting Rio Ferdinand for the event? Kanu queried.
"If you ask me, I would say the invitation was unnecessary. The huge amount I learnt that was used in bringing Ferdinand to Nigeria should have been channeled to more useful ventures.
"A lot of children in Nigeria are in the streets without food, shelter and proper education. That huge amount of money, lavished on the England player, should have been used to better the lives of such children.

"I grew up in the streets and I know what street life is like. That’s why it pains me a great deal when I see children languishing out there.
"We should learn to channel every little penny we have as individuals or government towards uplifting the lives of the children in our streets," he advised.

Kanu, a member of the 1993 team that won the Under-17 World Cup in Japan, however, advised children to be dedicated in whatever profession they find themselves, be it mechanic, bricklaying or anything, adding that there’s no other way to success than through hard work.
"There is no miracle to success in life. If a man is dedicated to whatever profession he finds himself he will reach any height he wishes to attain.

"My advice also goes to parents who are fond of abandoning their children early in life to cater for themselves. Parents should endeavour to be responsive to their children’s needs and try to take responsibilities in bringing them up so that they will become useful citizens both to themselves and to the country as a whole.

"I praise UNICEF and Search and Groom for hatching the idea of lifting children out of poverty. I, therefore encourage other NGOs in Nigeria to emulate UNICEF in this area," Kanu stated.