In an inspiring act of community service, Stanley Nwabali, the celebrated goalkeeper for Chippa United and a key figure in Nigeria’s Super Eagles, has utilized funds raised from his late parents’ burial to purchase 50 tricycles.
The initiative aims to empower the youth of his home community in Port Harcourt by providing them with a means of livelihood.
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The tricycles, locally known as “Keke,” were historically introduced as a commercial transportation solution in Lagos in 1996 under the administration of then-Military Governor Mohammed Buba Marwa.
Nwabali’s project builds on this legacy, aligning with the National Poverty Eradication Programme (NAPEP), launched in 2001 by President Olusegun Obasanjo.
The funding for this initiative stems from the substantial donations typically raised during Nigerian burial ceremonies, a cultural practice highlighted in a 2022 Cake Blog analysis of Yoruba and Igbo traditions.
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These elaborate funerals often generate significant resources, which Nwabali has repurposed from a personal milestone into a tool for community development.