Olympic gold medallist, Chioma Ajunwa, has recounted the generous gesture of late philanthropist, Moshood Abiola, towards her stating she built a three-room apartment with a cash gift from the businessman in 1991.
Ajunwa, presently a Police officer told PUNCH in an interview where she shared her fond memories of the late politician, that she got a cash price of N370,000 and a 24-karat gold after winning two gold medals at the 1991 African Games in Cairo, Egypt.
She said, “I don’t think there is anybody in Nigeria as far as sports is concerned that competed in the early 90s that wouldn’t have one thing or the other to say about Chief MKO Abiola. His memory still lingers in the mind of many.
“In 1991, I won two gold medals at the African Games, and when we came back, Chief Abiola did us proud. The first three rooms I built in my father’s house was from the money he gave to us. He gave me N370,000 and a 24-karat gold wristwatch, though somebody stole that wristwatch. The wristwatch was so fine and I kept it somewhere, with the case. I never wore it before it was stolen.
“I cannot forget him in a hurry; he was a man of peace and great understanding. He knew those of us in sports were from less-privileged homes and he took care of us,” Ajunwa told The PUNCH.
She also said in honouring him, an annual sporting competition should be organised.
“Chief Abiola deserved more than the renaming of the Abuja stadium. I was happy when I heard the president renamed the stadium after him because it was long overdue, I thought past administrations should have done that, kudos to the president for doing so.
“There should be a kind of competition that will always be running in his name annually, if that is done for him, it will be very good,” she added.
