Nigeria’s ex-internationals Austin Jay-Jay Okocha and Nwankwo Kanu are to feature as Captains in the Charity Champions’ Cup being organised by Attom Foundation to raise funds for charity initiatives in Nigeria.
The annual match would be contested at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja on Saturday June 15, 2024 featuring football legends across the world and notable Nigerian celebrities.
Some of the active football players and legends confirmed for the novelty match are Victor Osimhen, Kenneth Omeruo, Didier Drogba, Mario Balotelli, Asisat Oshola while the entertainers include Tiwa Savage, Paul and Peter Okoye, Michelle Eboue, among others.
For this year, the charity initiative, according to the organisers, is being channelled through providing succour for people suffering visual impairment with a target to provide treatment for over 10,000 Nigerians.
Already the foundation said it had acquired four mobile eye clinics with plans to have at least one in each of the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
At a joint press conference in Lagos on Thursday, founder of Attom Foundation, Yahaya Attom stated that the foundation was set up to cater for the less privileged in the society.
“The Charity Champions’ Cup stands as a testament to making a difference. This initiative embodies the essence of our foundation, uniting legendary footballers, celebrities and individuals from all walks of life to tackle a critical healthcare need – eye care for the elderly in Nigeria,” he said.
Also speaking, Stanley Chibunna popularly known as Funny Bone said the foundation had decided to leverage on the power of football because of its unifying factor.
“Remember the last AFCON Cup of Nations brought us together more as a nation. Once you are using football as a tool to drive any course, you will never go wrong,” he said.
He stated that the issue of sight is what many Nigerians take for granted, saying people need to constantly check their eyes.
An Optometrist, Dr. Chibuikem Ndukwe-Nwoke, says visual impairment remains a major health burden in Nigeria even though most causes are preventable.
According to him, the major causes of blindness are refractive error, cataract, glaucoma, diabetes, among others. He made reference to a research which indicated that 84% of elderly people are affected by visual impairment which are ordinarily preventable.
Comedian, Dr. Emmanuel Ogonna Iwueke (Dr. Craze Clown) explained that the charity championship has been endorsed by the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) and the Ministry of Health.
An Optometrist, Dr. Chibuikem Ndukwe-Nwoke, says visual impairment remains a major health burden in Nigeria even though most causes are preventable.
