Kanu loses ‘daughter’ to malaria

Kanu Nwankwo, former Super Eagles legend, says he has lost Enitan, “his daughter”, on Tuesday.

Enitan was one of the first beneficiaries of the Kanu Heart foundation initiatives, who had an open heart surgery when she was just 2-year-old in London.

The ex-Arsenal player took to his Twitter page to break the sad news.

“Why why why one of Kanu heart foundation gone. My daughter gone gone gone I can’t believe this R I P Eniton God knows all ??????????? sad sad sad Don’t know what to do,” he wrote.

Why why why one of Kanu heart foundation gone. My daughter gone gone gone I can’t believe this R I P Eniton God knows all 💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔 sad sad sad Don’t know what to do pic.twitter.com/EVq1AASsYM

— Kanu Nwankwo (@papilokanu) December 24, 2019

Amara Kanu, wife of the former Nigerian international, also took to her Instagram page to disclose that she died of complications from malaria.

She also revealed that the 21-year old deceased moved back to Nigeria after she completed her university education to work with the foundation.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B6dh_-8FtRt/?igshid=3t57g43it6dj

“Sad news today for me, I don’t know how to take this but God knows best,” she wrote.

“One of our first @kanuheartf beneficiaries passed away. Enitan was just 2 years old when she had her open surgery done in London courtesy of the Kanu Heart Foundation.

“She then became part of my family and 19 years later after completing her university studies, she came back to work with us in our Lagos office until she passed yesterday from some complications with malaria.

“She was kind, sweet and patient. She will be missed by many. Our condolences go out to her parents and family. A reminder to love while you can.”

After the 43-year-old heroic feat at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, it was discovered that Kanu had a serious heart defect.

Kanu’s condition and experience over the years led to the creation of the Kanu Heart Foundation in year 2000, an organisation that helps predominantly young African children who suffer from heart defects.