ENUGU – Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State has committed to placing all 109 former players of Rangers International Football Club on the state’s welfare programme. He made the announcement on Wednesday night (yesterday) during a tribute ceremony in Enugu for the late Chairman of the club, Christian Chukwu, MFR, describing the initiative as part of his administration’s plan to honour and sustain the dignity of sports veterans.
The governor further revealed that the immortalisation of Christian Chukwu will be undertaken in partnership with the Federal Government, given the football legend’s iconic status in Nigeria and across Africa. Mbah noted that arrangements are already in motion to ensure a seamless programme for Chukwu’s final rites, with the state government taking a lead role in supporting the family and the wider football community.
The solemn event attracted a distinguished list of attendees, including Nigeria’s first female governor, Dame Virgy Etiaba of Anambra; former Inspector-General of Police, Ogbonna Onovo; and local government council chairmen, among them Hon. John Chukwuma Ogbodo of Nkanu West, Chukwu’s home local government area. The gathering reflected both Chukwu’s towering legacy and the collective respect of the state’s political, sporting, and cultural leaders.
H E Dame Virgy Etiaba (R) and Obum Arum former chairman of Enugu Sports Club at the event.
Speaking at the event, Dame Virgy Etiaba described the governor’s welfare initiative as a “progressive and humane move” that sets a national example. “It is one thing to praise our heroes in words, but it is even greater to match words with action. The decision to care for these ex-players is both a tribute to Chukwu’s legacy and an investment in our sporting heritage,” she said.
Former Inspector-General of Police, Ogbonna Onovo, commended the plan to immortalise Chukwu, stressing the unifying role the late footballer played in Nigeria’s sports history. “Christian Chukwu was more than just a footballer; he was a leader who inspired unity across ethnic and national lines. His name deserves to be preserved for generations to come,” Onovo stated.
Governor Mbah said the move aligns with his administration’s broader vision for sports development. “Our heroes should never be forgotten. This initiative is about preserving their dignity, celebrating their contributions, and ensuring their welfare as a matter of policy,” he said.
Tourism experts at the event also noted that immortalising Chukwu could boost Enugu’s sports tourism potential. By developing memorials and themed events around his legacy, the state could attract visitors from across Nigeria and beyond, further enhancing Enugu’s profile as a destination for sports history and cultural heritage.
As part of the ongoing celebrations of Chukwu’s life, a colloquium in his honour will hold today, Thursday, at the Enugu Sports Club – established in 1929 – starting at 10 a.m. Members of the public, sports enthusiasts, and admirers of the late football legend are encouraged to attend and share in the commemoration of a man whose name is etched in Nigeria’s sporting history. GMTNewsng
