Nwankwo Kanu, the former Super Eagles striker, has made it clear that the National Leader of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC)’s and 2023 presidential aspirant, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu contributed financially to help him kick start his Kanu Heart Foundation.
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Kanu Nwankwo reveals how Tinubu’s finances helped start his foundation
Kanu said this on Saturday, March 19, 2022, when he and other ex-internationals visited Tinubu to congratulate him on his 70th birthday which comes up on March 29, 2022.
In a statement released by the former Lagos state governor’s media aide, Tunde Rahman, Kanu was quoted as saying that Tinubu donated the first seed money for that initiative in 2002.
“Without that money, there wouldn’t have been Kanu Foundation to perform the heart surgeries that have saved many lives.”
The Kanu Heart Foundation has successfully helped 538 children of different ages access free open-heart surgeries in hospitals across the world since it was launched in 2000.
The former Arsenal player was also diagnosed with a congenital heart defect and underwent surgery in 1996, this nearly ended his playing career but made a full recovery.
Other players at the event include former goalkeepers, Peter Rufai, Ike Shorunmu and Dosu Joseph; former captain, Austin ‘Jay Jay’ Okocha; and defenders Taribo West and Uche Okechukwu.
Midfielders, Tijani Babangida and Mutiu Adepoju and strikers, Victor Ikpeba and Obafemi Martins complete the guests list.
