By Chinedu Adonu

Nigerian football legend Kanu Nwankwo has emphasized the importance of prioritizing health, particularly in regards to heart diseases, during the Kanu Heart Foundation walk in Port Harcourt.

The event, held annually on September 29 to commemorate World Heart Day, aims to sensitize and educate people about heart failure symptoms and solutions.

The former Arsenal, Ajax, Inter Milan, and Portsmouth FC player stated, “We use this walk to educate people about the importance of taking care of their hearts. We’ve done this for over five years, holding events in various cities across Nigeria and Ghana.”

Kanu founded the Kanu Heart Foundation in 2000 to help individuals with life-threatening heart challenges. The organization has performed 670 open-heart surgeries globally. “We’re open to partnerships and sponsorships to save more lives,” Kanu added.

High Chief Dr. Jerry Patrick Onuokaibe, CEO of First Choice Afro Villa Ltd and Mburubu Construction Company Ltd, praised Kanu’s humanitarian efforts and committed to continued partnership. He also commended Enugu State Governor Peter Ndubuisi Mbah’s initiatives in the health sector, including the construction of the Enugu International Hospital.

Dignitaries in attendance included Super Eagles legends Emmanuel Emenike, Obinna Nwaneri, and Uche Okechukwu, as well as business mogul Stanley Ani.

Kanu’s personal experience with a congenital heart defect, which was operated on in 1996 and again in 2014, inspired him to establish the foundation. The Kanu Heart Foundation has built five hospitals in Africa and aims to tackle homelessness and provide cardiac surgeries for underprivileged children and young adults.