Sunday Dare Reaches Out to Late Rashidi Yekini’s Mother, Places Her on Monthly Stipend
Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Dr Sunday Akin Dare, has placed the mother of late Super Eagles striker, Rashidi Yekini, Alhaja Sikiratu Yekini, on a monthly stipend of N10,000.00 and also sent her Ramadan gifts .
The Representative of the Minister at the donation of the financial and material supports , Mr Olaitan Shittu , disclosed this in Ijagbo, near Offa town area Kwara state on Wednesday when he also donated N50,000.00 as part of Ramadan gifts on behalf of the minister to the aged mother.
Shittu explained that it was not the first time the Minister would be reaching out to Alhaja Sikiratu Yekini as he was also at Mama Yekini’s residence in September, 2019.
While responding, Alhaja Yekini who spoke in her local dialect (Yoruba), thanked the Minister and prayed fervently for him. “I have been abandoned for a long time and have not seen help from many people ”.
“I was hospitalised for days some months ago and I did catered for myself despite scarce resources, even , last month, I received treatment from hospital.
I need help from Nigerians but this minister has done very well, especially remembering me in this holy month of Ramadan. Since my son died, it has been very tough for me because many people have abandoned me”, Alhaja Sikiratu Yekini said.
Late Rashidi Yekini who died eight years ago in Ibadan after retiring from football had his professional career spanned more than two decades and was mainly associated with Vitória de Setúbal in Portugal but he also played in six other countries besides Nigeria.
Yekini scored 37 goals as a Nigerian international player from 58 games and represented the nation in five major tournaments, including two World Cups where he scored the country’s first-ever goal in the competition against Bulgaria in USA 94 World Cup.
He was also named the African Footballer of the Year in 1993.
Ramadan items donated include 50kg bag of rice, 10kg bag of wheat, six tins of Milo as well as the sum of N50,000.
