Tinubu was the first donor to my heart foundation - Kanu

Former Super Eagles striker, Nwankwo Kanu, has revealed that the All Progressives Congress (APC)'s National Leader and 2023 presidential hopeful, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu's monetary donation helped him kick start his Kanu Heart Foundation.

Kanu said this on Saturday, March 19, 2022, when he and other ex-internationals visited Tinubu to congratulate him on his 70th birthday which comes up on March 29, 2022.

Other players at the event include former goalkeepers, Peter Rufai, Ike Shorunmu and Dosu Joseph; former captain, Austin 'Jay Jay' Okocha; and defenders Taribo West and Uche Okechukwu.

Midfielders, Tijani Babangida and Mutiu Adepoju and strikers, Victor Ikpeba and Obafemi Martins complete the guests list.

In a statement released by the former Lagos state governor's media aide, Tunde Rahman, Kanu was quoted as saying that Tinubu donated the first seed money for that initiative in 2002.

"Without that money, there wouldn't have been Kanu Foundation to perform the heart surgeries that have saved many lives," Kanu said.

Since it was launched in 2000, the Kanu Heart Foundation has successfully helped 538 children of varying ages access free open-heart surgeries in hospitals across the world.

Recall that the former Arsenal player was diagnosed with a congenital heart defect and underwent surgery in 1996, which nearly ended his playing career but made a full recovery.

Kanu remains arguably the most decorated footballer the nation has ever produced. During his playing days, the mercurial forward won several laurels starting with the U-17 World Cup triumph in 1993.

He also won the prestigious Uefa Champions League (UCL) trophy with Ajax in 1996, as well as the Europa League with Inter Milan in 1998.

Kanu won the Premier League and FA Cup trophies with Arsenal, before leaving the club for West Brom and later Portsmouth, a club he helped to win an FA Cup title.