By Victor Enyinnaya on December 25, 2023

Dr. Obiora Okonkwo is a household name in Nigerian political terrain and pronto he invested heavily in cost intensive aviation industry where he founded United Airlines.  Note that his Airline is one of the front liners in the industry and flies in the Nigerian air space and beyond. Of truth, is that the business mogul is a diligent man. He has never ventured into anything legal and fails.

He does not go for half measures and foremost does not also take no as an answer.  Little wonder therefore, United Airlines is one of the best currently.

He was gubernatorial candidate of Social Democratic Party (SDP) in the last Anambra State poll as a result of his disagreement with his original party, the PDP. It is instructive to note here that he is already back to the umbrella party.  He is disarmingly unassuming personality.  Very suave and drives on the point of knowledge.  He does not talk on drop of hat but calls a spade by its name.

I have met him twice both were at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Abuja where a very mutual friend of mine introduced us that was run up to the last Anambra State governorship election.  Looked straight right into his eyes and quickly saw patriotic zeal of service in him. I further observed a clam and very listening personality in him.   Very silent achiever and thorough smooth operator of the first order all for comfort and good of mankind, in short, one intelligent Nigerian that can turn things around for better living for his people.

He has been visible and to be honest with you for good reasons too, he is an enduring humanist.  He is a philanthropist par excellence.  It is instructive to point out that this columnist had penciled down Dr. Obiora Okonkwo’s great support to humanity for last week. As such was being planned and materials being gathered, then came the news of  his sponsorship of the current Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL), Enyimba International FC in tune of N100million.

This newspaper ran the story where he personally supervised the presentation or unveiling ceremony in Anambra State. The chairman of the team and ex-international, Kanu Nwankwo, his management team and the technical crew led by another ex-international, George Findi graced the elaborate gathering where Dr. Okonkwo told the world why his first rate Airline, United Airline came to the conclusion to identify with Enyimba International, the most successful club side in Nigeria today via her back to back exploits in the most prestigious CAF Champions League

No Nigerian team has been able to equal or surpass Enyimba FC feat thus far. Enyimba has dominated CAF Champions League scene ever since without success. It is on record that the governors who came after current serving Senator Orji Uzor Kalu whose huge developmental strides in the State still linger. Senator Kalu’s thirst and master plan for Abia State was sadly abandoned. Very disheartening that his successors concentrated in enriching themselves, precisely Senator Theodore Ahamefule Orji and just recently worst ever to happen to human race, Victor Okezie Ikpeazu. They (T. A Orji and V.O Ikpeazu) are massively enjoying their loot in Naira, foreign currencies and vast investments within and in foreign lands with the State’s funds they diverted into private use.

I digress, we were discussing the laudable gesture by very patriotic business man, Dr. Obiora Okonkwo whose foot prints on the sands of time has been so massive and traceable.  He paid glowing tribute to the 1996 U- 23 Eagles team that won Olympic gold medal against all odds. Incidentally current chairman of Enyimba International FC, Nwankwo Kanu led the team and also scored one of the timeliest and significant goals that brought Nigeria back into reckoning when book makers and sundry had pronounced Nigeria out of the championship.

Dr. Okonkwo did not hide his lasting admiration on the historic members of that squad who bravely stopped the likes of hard to crack teams,  Brazil and Argentina to pick the Olympic 1996 football gold medal. It has been crafted and casted in stone that the Dream team as it is also refers to has broken the long knitted football establishment  in the World and proudly mounted the esteemed podium to be so crowned in Atlanta, USA where that year’s Olympic Games was held.

Again, I digress. The United Airlines founder emphatically declared that he would continue to identify with every member of that Olympic 1996 dream team whose spirit and focus traditionally represented and vividly reminds one the kind of resilient spirit that is Nigeria. His remarks during the brief but significant ceremony,  Enyimba and United Airlines was loaded with words on marble instructively tailored towards a new Nigeria whose acts in the continent ought to truly be that of leadership without blemish.  He has enabled the Aba based team whose performances thus far have been short of a defending champion. Having started on purely wrong footing and short sighted recruitment of players, the team has been inconsistent in her postings at ongoing NPFL.

One hopes, especially its teeming supporters, that the great lifeline offered through sponsorship by United Airlines would go a long way to bring stability into the team’s performances.  The NPFL is hot this season, aside from the enhanced prize money of N150million the sponsors of the league announced before the commencement of the season, the keenness stems from the fact that the teams went for quality legs this time and team focus on their desired destination.

United Airlines has set the tone for Enyimba. It has relieved near bankrupt Abia State government of heavy burden of sponsoring football team which is a very capital intensive venture. The State government with her meager resources will now be supporting not hundred percent as it has always been.

Based on that aspect, this columnist applauds governor, Alex Chioma Otti when Nwankwo Kanu was appointed as chairman of Enyimba FC board.  The former two- time Africa Footballer of the Year has that clout and good will to attract sponsors locally and internationally to move the team forward. The effects of the low caliber of players the team recruited has been its undoing since the game kicked- off.

For Dr. Obiora Okonkwo and his all efficient United Airlines, it was timely intervention for the Peoples Elephant team. It has started and steadily too gradually manifesting earnestly in the performance of the team. The philanthropist extra – ordinary came handy and his thirst for excellence in all he set his mind  has been visibly seen.  One believes that this partnership with Enyimba FC would not only work but also open new vista in club football in the country.

United Airlines entry into Enyimba’s life would at the long run not only be touch of historic excitement with trophies in the continent and world to show for it.  Dr. Obiora Okonkwo’s confident reposed in the team would definitely be trade mark for others to emulate dearly. He has not failed in his endeavours or partnerships and this won’t be an exception. He is a team player and leader.  The huge very kind man represents a team of hope any time. He is not one for pride. An interviewer’s delight any day.

Daily Sports, one of the few Google worldwide approved portals would not stop drumming loud and clear for this five star football club with huge cash sponsorship.  Keep shooting hard till next week, meanwhile we wait!!

Source Daily Sports Nigeria

Posted December 25, 2023

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