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Kenneth Omeruo Passing the Torch

Published

5 years ago

December 25, 2020

Joel Ajayi

For the Super Eagles and Leganes Spaniard football club defender, Kenneth Omeruo, leaving a legacy off the field is just as important as on-field success and the needy in Nigeria and the entire world are taking notice.

To be an athlete is to live in a bubble, one filled with stats, practice, and training. It’s about games most every night. There are hardships, sure changing time zones, red-eye flights, time away from family.

It’s definitely not easy, and very few people are capable of handling that. But that’s life inside one of the world’s most special vacuums.

Outside that bubble, though, is the real world. And in the real world, bigger questions loom. How will needy kids find a lifeboat? Who will help in the face of challenges? Do they have any ray of hope?

Those questions find their way into clubhouses more often than you might think. Super Eagles 2013 AFCON winner, Kenneth Omeruo‘s football academy reaching out and do something extra.

Of a truth, former Chelsea FC of England player is affecting the world in even more significant ways than just having an impressive line on the pitch of play.

Kenneth Josiah Omeruo was born on October 17th, 1993 in Abia State; he grew up in southeast Nigeria and began playing football in his parent’s sitting room.

It was there the dream to make a career out of football was birthed. Sustained by his mother’s support, he played for his school’s team, featuring in several shell cup and grassroots competitions.

Beginning from Nigeria, Omeruo moved abroad to Anderlecht Academy. From there, he moved to Standard Liege of Belgium and in January 2012 was signed by Chelsea.

His time at Chelsea has been characterized by several loan spells. Immediately after signing for Chelsea, he did not allow that to shake him, he was unwavering until he sealed a permanent deal to the Leganes on a five-year deal.

Kind-heart 2013 AFCON gold medalist, Kenneth Omeruo returned back to the old field Catholic Church playing Ground, Gwarimpa, Abuja where he was discovered years ago where scouting for talented young players took place.

OMERUO’S ACADEMY COMPLETE’ SIGNING OF TWO STARS TO LEGANES

Hope returned for a rejected under-20 player Obinna Martins who could not make the trip for Nigeria after considered him not good while another hopeless player Samuel Obaleh was given hope as the Omeruo academy completed their transfer to the Spanish Segunda club.

Obi Martins was among the player’s journalists, football followers were certain he would make the cut when the official list of the Flying Eagles names was released ahead of the 2020 West Africa Football Union Zone B tournament in the Benin Republic but today no hope is lost as heaven and earth smiled on him the courtesy of Omeruo.

ITS A BLESSING IN DISGUISE- MARTINS

An elated Obinna Martin Speaking in Abuja said: “the disappointment of not being selected by the team handlers was a blessing in disguise.

“I did not feel bad about me not joining the team. And they’re not qualifying for the U-20 Nations Cup that is football. You win some, you lose some. My plans are to do well and make the country and my family proud.”

PUTTING SMILES ON THE FACES OF TALENTED NIGERIAN FOOTBALLERS MY PRIORITY-OMERUO

Addressing journalist in Abuja on Thursday, Omeruo expressed: “giving young boys the platform to realize their dream of playing professional football pleased my heart and I promise to use this academy help and discover more talents for Nigeria.

“It is a thing of joy seeing my dream coming to reality. I am happier when my academy facilitated the signing of two players (Obi Martins and Samuel Obaleh) to my club, Leganes.

“I will like to add that seeing players from my academy playing for the national team will make me a fulfilled man after my retirement from football. Giving young talented players such a platform will help reduce crimes rate, help players take good care of their family and more importantly, takes boys off the streets and give them hope.”

He added that: “football is my passion and I know there are a lot of opportunities out there especially for young players because if we have to wait for the players to play in the national team, Under-17 or U-20, we wouldn’t get the best players. And most times the best players don’t have transport fares to go to this trial and I know a lot of boys so, I normally pay for their transport. I had to make sure they come to see if I can help one or two achieve their dream and right now I have two of my players who have already signed a contract with my club in Leganes and they have opened the way for me and given me the opportunity as long as the players are good they can come and I have other platforms I’m still working on to make it possible for these kids to actualize their dreams

“My satisfaction will at one point when I finish playing and I go on TV and see a lot of my boys still playing and being able to lift their family out of poverty because we can’t all depend on the government to help us and with these at least if one family is lifted out they can also affect other people,” he said.

HEAPED ENCOMIOUM ON COACH ABIMBOLA

Just like a river that did not forget his source, Omeruo showered encomium on the man whom God has given grace Coach Abimbola Samuel to discovered him at the same pitch, eleven years ago.

“I feel happy with the crowd I have seen here and the quality I have seen here am really happy and I want to appreciate my coach, coach Abimbola, coach Abu was here also and Emeka for bringing out time to train the boys, to select the boys, it’s purely by merit.”

KENNETH OMERUO A RIVER THAT DID NOT FORGET HIS SOURCE-COACH

As for him a coach that discovered Omeruo and many others coach Samuel Abimbola expressed that I just want to thank God that this is happening while I am alive and am not disappointed because from the day one I had contact with Kenneth, I knew that he’s going to go places because the River of kindness is flowing through his heart, so am not surprised that he’s trying to give back to what has given him fame.

“I want to see him as a role model to others that is when you climb across the big rivers that don’t forget those that are waiting for the canoe, that is what Omeruo is trying to do, I will liken it to the bible10 lepers was cured by Jesus Christ, its only one that went back to give thanks to Jesus and that is what Omeruo is doing.

“A lot of them that made it but how many of them are coming back, some of them are keeping 4 girls in rooms in the hotel, wasting money, buying Lamborghini and forgetting that a day is coming the younger ones they need to have taken care of will be looking on to them.

“I want to congratulate him for this step, the part he has taken; God Almighty will back him up and see him through.

“It means that he’s giving them life, giving them a future, it goes beyond even Omeruo himself, he’s helping Nigeria as a Country, he’s taking problems out of the street, he’s giving life, hope to the parents, I just want to have a way to discuss with this boy that if he is trying to do it now, they should now have it in mind that time is coming, a time to give back time, because if he has not dedicated himself if he was not determined if he was not having the target of where he’s going, he will not be where he is today. A time will come when he’ll be so happy, he’s not expecting money from them but he’s expecting that when he sits on that couch he’ll say, oh God has used me to touch somebody.” Coach Abimbola extolled Omeruo.

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Featured

NELFUND: The Renewed Hope Engine Propelling Nigeria’s Youth into Tomorrow

Published

3 days ago

November 28, 2025

The Gleamer

By Dayo Israel, National Youth Leader, APC

As the National Youth Leader of the All Progressives Congress, I have spent most of my tenure fighting for a Nigeria where every young person, regardless of their ward or local government, family income, or circumstance, can chase dreams without the chains of financial despair.

Today, that fight feels like victory, thanks to the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND). Launched as a cornerstone of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, this initiative isn’t just a policy tweak; it’s a revolution. And under the steady, visionary hand of Managing Director Akintunde Sawyerr, NELFUND has transformed from a bold promise into a roaring engine of opportunity, disbursing over ₦116 billion to more than 396,000 students and shattering barriers for over a million applicants.

Let’s be clear: NELFUND was always destined to be a game-changer. Signed into law by President Tinubu on April 3, 2024, it repealed the outdated 2023 Student Loan Act, replacing it with a modern, inclusive framework that covers tuition, upkeep allowances, and even vocational training—ensuring no Nigerian youth is left on the sidelines of progress.

But what elevates it from groundbreaking to generational? Leadership. Enter Akintunde Sawyerr, the diplomat-turned-executioner whose career reads like a blueprint for results-driven governance. From co-founding the Agricultural Fresh Produce Growers and Exporters Association of Nigeria (AFGEAN) in 2012—backed by icons like former President Olusegun Obasanjo and Dr. Akinwumi Adesina—to steering global logistics at DHL across 21 countries, Sawyerr brings a rare alchemy: strategic foresight fused with unyielding accountability.

As NELFUND’s pioneer MD, he’s turned a fledgling fund into a finely tuned machine, processing over 1 million applications since May 2024 and disbursing ₦116 billion—₦61.33 billion in institutional fees and ₦46.35 billion in upkeep—to students in 231 tertiary institutions nationwide. That’s not bureaucracy; that’s brilliance.

Sawyerr’s touch is everywhere in NELFUND’s ascent. Since the portal’s launch, he’s overseen a digital ecosystem that’s as transparent as it is efficient—seamless verification, BVN-linked tracking, and real-time dashboards that have quashed misinformation and built trust. In just 18 months, the fund has empowered 396,252 students with interest-free loans, many first-generation learners who might otherwise have dropped out.

Sensitization drives in places like Ekiti and Ogun have spiked applications — 12,000 in a single day in one instance, while expansions to vocational centers in Enugu pilot the next wave of skills-based funding. And amid challenges like data mismatches and fee hikes, Sawyerr’s team has iterated relentlessly: aligning disbursements with academic calendars, resuming backlogged upkeep payments for over 3,600 students, and even probing institutional compliance to safeguard every kobo. This isn’t management; it’s mastery—a man who doesn’t just lead but launches futures.

Yet, none of this happens in a vacuum. President Tinubu’s alliance with trailblazers like Sawyerr is the secret sauce securing Nigeria’s tomorrow. The President’s Renewed Hope Agenda isn’t rhetoric; it’s resources—₦100 billion seed capital channeled into a system that prioritizes equity over elitism. Together, they’ve forged a partnership where vision meets velocity: Tinubu’s bold repeal of barriers meets Sawyerr’s boots-on-the-ground execution, turning abstract policy into tangible triumphs. It’s a synergy that’s non-discriminatory by design—Christians, Muslims, every tribe and tongue united in access—fostering national cohesion through classrooms, not courtrooms.

As Sawyerr himself notes, this is “visionary leadership” in action, where the President’s political will ignites reforms that ripple across generations.

Why does this matter to us, Nigeria’s youth? Because NELFUND isn’t handing out handouts—it’s handing out horizons. In a country where 53% of us grapple with unemployment, these loans aren’t just funds; they’re fuel for innovation, entrepreneurship, and endurance.

Picture it: A first-generation polytechnic student in Maiduguri, once sidelined by fees, now graduates debt-free (repayments start two years post-NYSC, employer-deducted for ease) and launches a tech startup. Or a vocational trainee in Enugu, equipped with skills funding, revolutionizing local agriculture. This is quality education that endures—not fleeting certificates, but lifelong launchpads. Sawyerr’s focus on human-centered design ensures loans cover not just books, but bread—upkeep stipends of ₦20,000 monthly keeping hunger at bay so minds can soar. Under his watch, NELFUND has debunked doubts, refuted fraud claims, and delivered results that scream sustainability: Over ₦99.5 billion to 510,000 students by September, with 228 institutions on board.

As youth leaders, we see NELFUND for what it is: A covenant with our future. President Tinubu and MD Sawyerr aren’t just allies; they’re architects of an educated, empowered Nigeria—one where poverty’s grip loosens with every approved application, and innovation blooms from every funded desk. This isn’t charity; it’s an investment in the 70 million of us who will lead tomorrow.

We’ve crossed one million applications not because of luck, but leadership—a duo that’s turning “access denied” into “future unlocked.”

To President Tinubu: Thank you for daring to dream big and backing it with action.

To Akintunde Sawyerr: You’re the executor we needed, proving that one steady hand can steady a nation.

And to every Nigerian youth: Apply. Graduate. Conquer.

Because with NELFUND, your generation isn’t just surviving—it’s thriving, enduring, and eternal.

The Renewed Hope isn’t a slogan; it’s our story, now written in scholarships and success. Let’s keep turning the page.

Dayo Israel is the National Youth Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

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