It’s been over a decade since Nigeria lifted the 2013 Africa Cup of Countries (AFCON) trophy, with the Colossal Eagles, led by the slack Stephen Keshi and captained by John Mikel Obi, introduced the title house after an extended drought.
In the excitement of the victory, Aliko Dangote, Africa’s richest man, pledged $1 million to reward the staff. But 12 years later, that cash is aloof nowhere to be found.
This inquire now echoes louder than ever: When will Dangote pay?
Aliko Dangote with a pending promise
Aliko Dangote is now not moral successfully off, he’s historically successfully off. For the 14th straight year, he tops Forbes’ checklist of Africa’s richest participants. With a derive price of $23.9 billion, he’s now not handiest the richest African nonetheless moreover the wealthiest Sad person in the world.
An enormous jump in his fortune came currently, thanks to the initiate of the Dangote Refinery, the largest of its kind on the continent.
While his enterprise empire spans cement, sugar, and now oil, his rising affect in international finance stands in interesting inequity to one long-standing reveal: the $1 million he promised the nationwide staff has never been delivered.
How he made the promise
After Nigeria’s victory in South Africa in 2013, Dangote’s pledge was bigger than a monetary gesture, it was symbolic. It was meant to monitor appreciation and enhance for the avid gamers who lifted the spirit of a total nation.
And at the time, it felt proper. But as the years passed and the avid gamers continued to wait, that gesture started to survey extra like empty PR than a factual reward.
Mikel Obi, alongside alongside with his teammates, has since moved on alongside with his career, nonetheless the disappointment stays. Worthy extra painful is that Stephen Keshi, the coach who led the staff to glory, passed away with out ever seeing the promise fulfilled.
Elumelu in the educate
Sadly, Dangote isn’t by myself. Tony Elumelu, a infamous Nigerian banker and philanthropist, moreover made a $500,000 pledge to the victorious squad. Worship Dangote, his promise stays unfulfilled to these days.
For a whole lot of Nigerians, these cases signify bigger than person lapse, they mirror a broader pattern of broken promises in the sports sector.
The man who in actuality paid
In interesting inequity, Japanese surgeon Dr. Katsuya Takasu made headlines in 2016 when he fulfilled a $390,000 pledge to Nigeria’s Olympic football staff internal hours of their bronze medal get hang of in Rio.
He didn’t predict ceremonies or fanfare, he merely acted. That gesture, coming from any individual without a nationwide ties to Nigeria, exposed the hollow nature of promises made by just a few of the country’s wealthiest residents.
Takasu grew to change into a symbol of integrity. He kept his be aware and earned the appreciate of many Nigerians. Meanwhile, Dangote and Elumelu proceed to face public scrutiny for their silence.
So, When?
As Dangote’s wealth continues to climb and Nigeria’s economy struggles, the inquire becomes more challenging to push apart. Why hasn’t he paid? Is it a case of forgetfulness, bureaucracy, or merely lack of curiosity? Most productive he can resolution that.
But for the avid gamers who place their bodies on the line to lift glory to the country, the silence stings. And for Nigerians watching from the sidelines, it’s a worrying reminder that even in moments of nationwide pleasure, apply-via isn’t guaranteed.
So we inquire all all over again, when will Dangote pay the $1 million he owes the Colossal Eagles?
As a consequence of a promise, especially one made in the spotlight of nationwide achievement, must now not be this straightforward to neglect.
