Super Eagles and Leicester City midfielder, Wilfred Ndidi, on Boxing Day, brought joy to around 2,000 children in Ajegunle, Ajeromi-Ifelodun Local Government Area of Lagos State on Boxing Day, as part of the area’s Christmas festivities.
The PUNCH reported that the event, held at the Maracana Sports Centre, was a collaboration between Ndidi, prominent businessman Yemi Idowu, the Local Government Chairman, Fatai Ayoola, and the traditional ruler of Iwa and Apapa, Mohammed Amodu-Tijani.
Although sidelined with a hamstring injury, the 28-year-old Ndidi took on the task of serving guests and distributing food items to the children at the party.
Reflecting on his own childhood experiences, Ndidi shared why he was motivated to organize the event.
“I feel like it’s a festive period and these kids deserve something like this. It’s something they will have to remember and the memory sticks with them,” he said. “The happiness on the faces of the children too can’t be explained. When you do something for adults, the emotions stay with them only but when you do something for kids, the adults see it as well, so they also try to do the same. All we are trying to do is to create memories and I’m happy to be doing this because some of us didn’t have this experience while growing up, I grew up in the barracks like most people know. This is not about football now. Schools are on break and this is a time to create memories, especially among kids.”
The host and CEO of Cana Sports,Yemi Idowu, praised Ndidi for his contribution, saying, “This is part of something we do every year to try and celebrate with the kids, especially because we are here in Ajegunle and they are friends. I am very happy to have the king, the chairman and Wilfred to support us in doing this. It has a bigger impact when we all work together.”
The Chairman of Ajeromi-Ifelodun Local Government, Fatai Ayoola, explained the local authority’s role in organizing the event. “What we have done is to first accredit them from the LGA secretariat and we drove the kids into this venue. We also made arrangements for those who would come unannounced at the Maracana Park and they would equally be taken care of as much as those inside so we can have a perfect party. It’s a back-to-back celebration for the kids of Ajegunle and we are elated to host Ndidi. This month alone we have had three visitors who have given the kids befitting Christmas gifts. So, what we are doing is to make them happy in grand style.”
