By Harry Awurumibe, Editor, Abuja Bureau
One of the pioneers of women’s football sponsorship, promotion, and administration, Chief John Obijiaku, aka “Chairman,” has gone to be with his maker, Prompt News reports.
Popularly known as John Obi, who died after a motor accident in his hometown Agulu in the South East, was one of the earliest persons to dive into the promotion of women’s football in Nigeria in the 1990s after he convinced his wealthy town’s man and the millionaire-owner of C.N. Okoli Motors Ltd, Chief C.N.Okoli from Anambra State to adopt a newly formed women’s football club he founded called Flying Angels FC of Lagos, a club that produced former Super Falcons’ legendary goalkeeper and current assistant coach Ann Agumanu-Chiejine in 1991.
After his pet projects, Flying Angles and C.N. Okoli Babes disbanded because of lack of funds, Obijiaku, who was using his meagre resources as a low-level civil servant with State House, Dodan Barracks (now Presidential Villa), and even lost his job because of the loss of his official 504 Salon vehicle to car jerkers on his way to football training, later dusted himself up to accept the position of Team Manager of the high-flying Princess Jegede Babes FC of Lagos.
The Anambra-born diehard women’s football promoter saw to the recruitment and mentoring of ex-Super Falcons stars like forwards Mercy Akide-Udoh, Patience Avre-Odeli, and midfielders Maureen Mmadu, Obioma Onuoha, Florence Okpala, etc.
After retirement, Obijiaku has remained interested in the progress of the women’s game he loved so much.
He was amongst the pioneer women’s football promoters in Nigeria, little wonder his name was mentioned in Chapter 7 of Nigeria’s first-ever women’s football book titled Genesis of Female Soccer in Nigeria co-authored by Harry Chidozie Awurumibe and Christopher Akintunde Abisuga (1991).
Obijiaku took his place amongst personalities behind women’s football in Nigeria like late First Lady Mrs. Maryam Babangida; Princess Bola Zenaib Ngozi Jegede; Elder Eddington Bola Kuejubola; Pa Joseph Othowowa; late Prince Larry Ezeh.
Others are ex-Pillar of Sports in Africa, late Bashorun MKO Abiola; ex-Sports Minister Alabo Tonye Graham-Douglas; former NFA Chairmen Alhaji Yusuf Ali, Pa Chuba Ikpeazu, Effiom Etim Okon and ex-Secretary Generals P.O.C. Achebe and Patrick Okpomo.
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