Nathaniel Idowu (1934-2010)

WITH the death of frontline philanthropist, entrepreneur and lover of sports, Chief Nathaniel Olabiyi Idowu, Nigeria has lost a major supporter of sports as a tool of human and national development. He was an unsung hero of many of Nigeria's accomplishments in sports - football in particular - whose quiet disposition to life arguably put him in virtual obscurity. But that factor did not discourage him. He served and supported the sports sector selflessly for about four decades. He sat on the board of the Nigeria Football Association as a member and later, as vice chairman. He was an outspoken promoter of private sector involvement in football management and an unrelenting critic of government interference. Widely recognised as the doyen of professional football in the country, he set up a professional league board independent of government in 1990, working with then Minister of Sports, Air Commodore Bayo Lawal. He was also the proprietor of the Bhojson Football Club, but his greatest impact lay in the area of philanthropy.

His relationship with sports dates back to his early years in the 1940s as a pupil of St. Paul Anglican Primary School in Ibadan where he was renowned for his academic brilliance as well as his outstanding ability as a sportsman, particularly as a footballer. Even outside the shores of the country, he remained passionate about football, joining the fans club of Tottenham Hotspurs in England while he was a student at the then Northwest Polytechnic.

His selfless spirit and devotion to humanity was remarkable. For example, he single-handedly sponsored the country's participation in some championships, including the national football team at the 1984 Africa Cup of Nations finals in Cote d'Ivoire, and before then the Super Eagles trip to a North African country in 1981. He equally played a major role in the Dream Team's quest for gold at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta in the United States, offering to pay the players' match bonuses and allowances when the football association allegedly failed to meet its obligations. Yet, Chief Idowu never demanded or got anything in return for his support. A man of great humility, he loathed the idea of publicising his contributions. This is a commendable quality in a country where too many persons are self-seeking.

For a man who was so committed to the development of the sports sector, it is ironic that he would be fully acknowledged only after his departure. A close associate of the late philanthropist, Afolabi Gambari, lamented that: "Of the millions of football followers in Nigeria, only a few would readily attest to knowing Chief Idowu and how much he contributed to football development." This is a comment on the value Nigeria places on individuals who serve diligently and selflessly whereas corrupt looters of the treasury are recognised and adored.

In spite of this lack of recognition, Idowu's imprint will endure, even on the international scene. His son, Philips, is a hero in British sports, winning international honours as a triple jumper. Chief Idowu, when confronted with the fact of his son preferring Britain to his country of birth, defended himself that he could not dictate to an adult who had a right to decide what is good for him and more importantly that the inadequacy of training facility is a major setback for the progress of an athlete. Truly, Nigeria does not provide an enabling environment for its many talented citizens in virtually every field of human endeavour. At every occasion, Chief Idowu drew attention to the need for greater investments in sports and the country's rich human resources.

He also served on the board of the regional conglomerate, the Oodua Group as a director for many years. As a businessman and entrepreneur, he successfully managed, among other businesses, a textile manufacturing industry in Ibadan through which he further gave expression to his generous spirit. Every Christmas season, he distributed bales of textile materials to people at the stadium in the Oyo State capital. His philanthropy should serve as a lesson to other wealthy and privileged Nigerians. One great lesson of his life is the passion he brought to bear on any positive cause he believed in, in the service of mankind. His immense wealth may have facilitated his philanthropic disposition but it is not often that we find rich Nigerians who are willing to promote the public good. In 2006, he was deservedly awarded the International Olympic Committee's highest honour, the first Nigerian to be so recognised. Chief Idowu deserves to be honoured, even if post-humously, by either his state (Oyo) or the Federal Government. He will be greatly missed by the sports community.

Source:www.ngrguardiannews.com