Skip to main content
IMPORTANCE OF EDUCATION LETS REMEMBER HIM.
The remembrance of Samuel Okwaraji will be forever celebrated as long
as football is loved and enjoyed in Nigeria. Generations coming will
always read about him.
Of course, I was a kid when he died on August 12, 1989 while in
active service for his fatherland, Nigeria. He was a patriotic soul and
the memory of his death will continue to linger on for many years to
come.
Much have been written to eulogize the legendary footballer, but on
my part I want to address his educational prowess, and his belief in
sound education. I remember how arduous it is to pursue a Ph.D.
programme; I enrolled for my Doctorate Degree in 2013 but had to drop
out after a few months because of the stress and commitment that have to
go with it in combination with my career schedule.
Sarcastically, I have said many times that some institutions should
just dash me an honorary doctorate degree for my contributions to the
society. On a serious note, it was an arduous task!
Kudos to all the Ph.D. holders out there, especially the ones in
Nigeria; we know how difficult it is to go through that hurdle, I don’t
envy you at all!
Having said that, Okwaraji is dead, but his legacy lives. The legacy
that I want to pick from is the fact that, he was an educated footballer
which was a rare endeavour in modern day footballers.
Undoubtedly, education is good, it enlightens and guide you through
some issues and helps your outlook towards life. It is good to be
educated and when you are, you rightfully command respect and can be a
good analyst especially for humanity.
This great soccer legend had a university degree, a master’s degree
and almost a PhD, at a time when education had value in Nigeria;
unfortunately, many of his teammates didn’t’ share his foresight about
the value of education in their life after a short football career.
It can never be easy to combine education with football commitments,
thus I want to say kudos to the dead, for getting himself educated, and
it was a short life worthy of emulation!
If Okwaraji were to be alive today, he surely would have retired from
football and gone into something meaningful and not looking up to the
Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to revive his career like some
ex-footballers do.
Many ex-internationals have gone broke after their careers, by
surrounding themselves with fair-weather friends that misguide and lure
them into putting their hard-earned money in showdy business ventures
which liquidates. For example, a Super Eagles player once opened a
multi-million naira night club that folded up quicker than it started
and we heard nothing about it again. There are many other failed
businesses attributed to these ex-Internationals.
As a matter of fact, businesses can foldup without adequate research
and application especially when an entrepreneur is not educated.
Mary Onyali although a former athlete is duly employed by the
National Sports Commission; Segun Odegbami is doing well because he
received education; Sunday Oliseh, is another intelligent guy with good
writing skills and analytical mind. These are a few of many other
educated footballers!
I recently interviewed a top player, and I asked what plan he has for
the future, he said, it’s in God’s hands as he is focusing on football
now.
I advised him to get an online course, enroll there and to my
surprise he is studying an online course in one of the top universities
in Europe.
Also, Steven Ukoh, a Nigerian player from Switzerland is playing and
studying Law, he once told me that he may likely fall back to sports
law.
Finally, my point here is that footballers should get themselves educated. It is never too much, and never too late.
With Okwaraji’s Master’s degree in law, he might have opted to
practice law with a big chamber on retirement if he happened to be
alive. Rest on Nigeria’s midfield dynamo, Okwaraji!
Comments
Post a Comment