Segun Odegbami: Adieus, Youngest Millionaire! 

The thought of Henry Nwosu is big on my mind.  When I nicknamed him ‘Youngest Millionaire’ it was because he was the youngest player in our group to be worth a million Naira in domestic Nigerian football after AFCON 1980. Henry had other nicknames, one of which was ‘Congo’.  Before 1980, none of us had ever earned a million Naira. What were approved for us as bonuses were no where near that ‘impossible’ figure. A thousand Naira was a whole lot of money. We were previously on N2:00/N5:00 daily allowance, and N60:00 match bonus. Those were the maximum we received.  Then came the Nations Cup and our world changed, particularly for the youngest amongst us, a young man just out of secondary school who was going to earn a big bonus. A thousand Naira felt like a million, hence my nickname for him – ‘The Youngest Millionaire’.  When Henry Nwosu joined us in the national team on the eve of the 1980 AFCON, he was very well established as captain of Nigeria’s Flying Eagles team, and was well known in the secondary schools (academicals) football circle.  Henry Nwosu He was so good as a midfield player (he controlled it like a ‘General’) that he could have played for any team in the world, in my humble estimation. He was diminutive, skillful beyond his age, fearless, with powerful shots and great passing skills with both feet, a superb dribbler, and a natural leader on the field with the ball at his feet.  His acrobatic ‘bicycle’ kicks were legendary. He scored many goals from literally doing a somersault in the air whilst shooting at an opponent’s goal.  He earned his invitation to the Green Eagles on merit, through his exceptional performance as captain of Nigeria’s junior team. Some of us didn’t initially think he could displace any of the more established and famous players already in Nigeria’s midfield – Muda Lawal, Aloysius Atuegbu, Shafiu Mohammed, Godwin Iwelumo, Okey Isima and so on, but he surprised everyone of us with the confidence with which he matched them in almost every department. He adapted quickly and easily into the different roles and team tactics he was introduced to. Henry never joined the transition of players to Europe at the time for a professional career because his close friends later revealed that he admitted to them that he could not cope with the cold weather.  I don’t know, also, why he did not follow his friends and colleagues like Alfred Keyede and Sam Owoh to the USA for academic studies with all his contributions to academicals football.  In African football his career for well over a decade at international level is fully documented with stints in a few African countries. He had remarkable contributions to Nigeria’s superb performances at the 1984 and 1988 AFCONS, before finally retiring in the early 1990s.  Although, he later went into coaching, he was not as successful as when he was a player. Coaching and playing are two different ball games.  At his peak as a coach, he was a member of the technical consortium assembled by late Chief Adegboye Onigbinde to join him to take the national team of Nigeria, the Super Eagles, to the 2002 World Cup in Korea/Japan. Things did not go down well. The crew was sent packing after a rather dismal performance by the team. I am not so sure what coaching he did again after that, but he did not make any serious mark. Henry fell ill a few years ago, and with the help of the Governor of Lagos State, some friends and a few philanthropic Nigerians, he was rehabilitated. Unfortunately, health wise, he never quite fully recovered.  On March 14, 2026, Henry Nwosu passed on after struggling without success to ‘defeat’ a lingering heart condition.  As he is laid to rest at his Creator’s in Heaven, on June 6, 2026, on behalf of the entire football family of colleagues, fans and family this is to wish him a peaceful journey Home!   Meanwhile, this is a passionate appeal to the Governor of Imo State, Dr. Peter Mbah; the Governor of Lagos State, Mr, Babajide Sanwo-Olu; the Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Mallam Shehu Dikko; DG of the NSC, Chief Bukola Olopade; the President of the Nigerian institute of Football Federation, Alhaji Ibrahim Gusau; the commissioners of Sports of Lagos and IMO States, any interested Philanthropic Nigerians and organizations that want to be a part of supporting the organisation of a befitting burial for Henry Nwosu, MON, to please reach out to his family. They need our collective help and support NOW to make it happen.  Adieus ‘Youngest Millionaire’. Dàpo Abiodun – Happy Anniversary!  It is evening.  I am driving past this magnificent monument.  It catches my full attention.  It stands beautiful and majestic, wearing a happy face, a timeless edifice for Sport and for the people of Ogun State.  I remember vividly how, one year ago, almost to the day, this place, re-christened MKO Abiola International Sports Arena, did not ‘sleep’ for two whole weeks when Ogun State hosted the ‘Gateway Games 2024’, between May 16 and May 30, 2025.  During the two weeks of the National Sports Festival, the MKO International Sports Arena became the social, cultural and commercial nerve-centre of Abeokuta. The Games transformed the town, showcasing the outlines of a potential sports ecosystem with ‘bright future’ inscribed all over it.  The opening and closing ceremonies of the Festival must go down in history as two of Prince Dapo Abiodun’s great moments as Governor of Ogun State.  Free of the encumbrances of politics, twice he stood proudly and majestically on a podium before a global audience, welcoming and sending forth attendees at the great festival of peace, unity and friendship through Sport amongst Nigerians.  Since then, the MKO Abiola International Sports Arena has hosted more international sports events (football and athletics) than any other facility in Nigeria.  Since then, the governor has redeemed his pledge to the participating athletes of Ogun State that excelled, with rewards that are unprecedented in the history of the State. Many of the lives of the lucky athletes have been changed for good, forever with the ample generosity of the governor.  Since then, the Governor has also appointed Nigeria’s first Grand Sports Ambassador of a State, thereby adding a new place of honour for athletes that distinguish themselves after Sport!  Today, amongst the major achievements of the outgoing administration, the MKO Abiola International Sports Arena and the city of Abeokuta, stand out as new centres for international sport in Nigeria, and must count as additions to Dapo Abiodun’s legacies.  The evidence is there for everyone to see.  As the governor prepares to complete his work in Ogun State, I am thinking.  He can choose to go one step farther and bow out in grand style with a shot at a new sports project. He can deploy his creativity (even at this late hour ) to engage and renovate the Otunba Dipo Dina International Stadium in Ijebu Ode, by wrapping a sports event around it, and creating a new socio-cultural, economic and sports hub in Ijebu Ode that will deservedly add to the count of his legacies in Ogun State!  Meanwhile, I congratulate Prince Adedapo Oluseun Abiodun, MFR, CON, on behalf of all citizens of Ogun State, on the first anniversary of the end of the ‘Gateway Games 2025’.  Olusegun Odegbami MON, OLY, Grand Sports Ambassador The post Segun Odegbami: Adieus, Youngest Millionaire!  appeared first on Vanguard News.