Various reactions have trailed Manchester United surprised loan signing of former Super Eagles Striker Odion Ighalo in the final hours of January transfer window.
Prominent among these reactions especially from Nigerians is that Ighalo is one of the few Nigerian players that enjoys pure grace and luck in his football career. These fans premise their claim on his inspiring his Ajegunle to Manchester story.
However, unknown to many Odion Ighalo is a strong humanitarian and relentless philanthropist. He is one of the few Nigerian professional footballers that lavishes their wealth to reduce the suffering of the poor in Nigeria.
Ighalo is known to be a devout Christian, who also often dedicates part of his wages for Nigerian charitable organisations to help impoverished children, schools and widows below the poverty line.
Former Granada and Watford star Ighalo – who is joining the Red Devils on a six-month loan deal from Shanghai Shenhua – used his whopping £300k-a-week Chinese wages for good by funding an orphanage in Lagos.
In December 2017, the Ighalo Orphanage Home was opened in Ijegun, a poverty-stricken suburb in northern Lagos.
Ighalo reportedly spent 500 million Nigerian naira around £1m – to build the home. It houses between 30 to 40 children and has separate apartments for boys and girls.
They take babies and pledge to look after them until they reach 18, teaching academic studies and sport.
Super Eagles star Ighalo who grew up 50km up the road in Adekunle said on the foundation website that “Life was tough growing up in Ajegunle and I vowed that if I eventually had a breakthrough, I’ll give back to the society that made me”
“Life’s challenges were hard enough even with both parents at my side.
“It goes without saying that orphans have it even worse and it gladdens my heart that life has offered me this rare privilege to be guiding light in their life.”
The orphanage’s logo depicts Ighalo sliding on his knees and raising his arms to the sky as he celebrates a goal, with the inscription ‘God is able’
Prior to this, in 2015 Odion Ighalo funded and cared for 45 widows.
Apart from his orphanage and the widow care program the new Manchester United striker also got involved in the #1Girl1Pen girl child education campaign where he paid full scholarship for 5 school girls.
Super Eagles coach, Gernot Rohr also extols the 30 year old Ighalo philanthropistic activities and pointed out how he supported the team at AFCON 2019.
Rohr said, “Ighalo was able to buy SIM cards for all the players and officials, when some players didn’ t have any money after three or four weeks . He bought SIM cards in Egypt because some players could not call their families , he was the one who bought the SIM cards with credit for everybody , for the 39 people. ”
Despite retiring from the National Team to allow other younger players thrive in the National colours of the country, Ighalo remains committed to giving back to the less privileged in the society.
What do you think about Odion Ighalo and his Manchester United deal?
