NSC Pays Tribute to Late Nwosu As Burial Plans Begin

The National Sports Commission Chairman Mallam Shehu Dikko has eulogized former Nigerian national team captain Late Henry Nwosu (MON) as a symbol of schools sports in Nigeria. Under the Renewed Hope Initiative for Nigeria Sports Economy (RHINSE), reviving schools sports is top on the Commission’s agenda and Mallam Dikko has fond memories of Nwosu’s exploits in schools sports rising to the level of captaining the national team.
Speaking while hosting a delegation from the Nwosu family and Imo State Concerned Sports Stakeholders who visited to intimate him on the burial plans, the NSC Chairman pointed out that Nwosu is an example worthy of emulation by younger athletes and budding athletes in the schools.
His words, “Henry Nwosu started playing for the national team at a very young age. The history of schools sports particularly the Principals Cup will not be complete without his name. At that very young age he featured for Nigeria at the AFCON in 1980. He is an example to every aspiring young athlete that it is possible to get to the highest level. His success also encourages us now at the Commission, well aware that there is a lot of talented athletes at the grassroots level and the schools and indeed our work in this respect is being validated with the number of school athletes now representing Nigeria at the highest levels.”
He believes that Henry Nwosu should be immortalised along the line of his exploits, not just for the national team, but particularly in schools sports.
“At the Federal level and in conjunction with the Imo State Government, something should be captured to make sure that his name is engraved in our schools sports history. For instance, a schools sports tournament should be named after him. It is a huge loss for the nation and we will do all we can to ensure that his labours are not forgotten”, he added.
He approved the delegation’s request that Nwosu be accorded a state burial.
“On behalf of the Federal Government and in the shared prosperity disposition of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, I once more condole with the family and the entire Nigerian football fraternity for this irreparable loss. There is nothing that we do in his memory that will be so big. I will liaise with all the stakeholders to see how we can support to give him a befitting burial”, he added.
The delegation consisted of Dr. Geoffrey Ogu Chairman of Imo State Concerned Sports Stakeholders; Nwosu’s widow Kelechi Victoria Nwosu; his sisters, Mrs. Ijeoma Onyewuchi (nee Nwosu) and Mrs. Kate Kogolo (nee Nwosu) and former SWAN Abuja Chairman Ndubueze Chidoka.