NFF adds New Minimum wage to FG's N10,000 monthly stipend to mothers of late 2 ex-internationals

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has pledged to support the mothers of late ex-internationals, Rashidi Yekini and Samuel Okwaraji, with a monthly stipend of N30,000 each.


By Olorungbotemi Tunde



The move followed the Ministry of Youth and Sports’ gesture to the mother of Yekini, who was visited by the Minister, Sunday Dare, with cash and food items and promised a N10,000 monthly stipend.



On Thursday, the Minister then announced that the ministry has also placed the mother of Okwaraji on a similar stipend, with the final details to be communicated privately.



In appreciation of Dare’s gesture, the NFF then tweeted that the football body has decided to support the two matriarchs with N30,000 monthly.



This, it says, is to support the noble initiative and also review the situation of surviving mothers of ex-internationals that died in active service for the country.


“In furtherance to, and in appreciation of, the recent pronouncement of the HM Sports @SundayDareSD to put the mothers of late ex-internationals Sam Okwaraji and Rashidi Yekini on a monthly stipend,” the NFF wrote.

“The NFF has decided to support this noble initiative with a further monthly stipend of N30k to each of the matriachs.”



The statement added: ”In addition, the NFF will henceforth review the situation of surviving mothers of our ex-internationals that died in active service for the country and resolve what to do for them on monthly basis.”



Yekini, who represented Nigeria in two FIFA World Cups, died eight years ago in Ibadan after retiring from professional football.



For Nigeria, he scored 37 goals from 58 games and was the scorer of the first ever Nigerian goal at the World Cup, and was named the African Footballer of the Year in 1993.



Okwaraji, on the other hand, died while playing for Nigeria.