Eight years after the Nigerian legend died at the relatively young age of 48, comfort and succour have finally come the way of the aged mother he left behind
Alhaja Sikiratu Yekini, the aged mother of late Super Eagles striker Rashidi Yekini, has expressed her delight after the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development placed her on a monthly stipend of N10,000.
Yekini is undoubtedly Nigeria's greatest ever striker after finding the back of the net for the Green and White 37 times in 58 matches.
No striker before or after the Kaduna-born forward has come anywhere near that record, with the legendary Segun Odegbami the nearest on the scorer's chart with 22 strikes.
The former Vitoria de Setubal hitman represented Nigeria at five major tournaments, notably helping the Super Eagles win the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations in Tunisia. He topped the goal charts and was named the best player at that tournament.
After leading Nigeria to her first-ever World Cup finals, Yekini also scored the country's first-ever goal at the Mundial in a 3-0 victory over Bulgaria at the USA '94.
The Shooting Stars icon, however, tragically died on May 4, 2012, after a prolonged illness.
But there is finally light at the end of the dark tunnel for Yekini's mother after Olaitan Shittu, a representative of the Minister, Sunday Dare, disclosed that a monthly stipend of 10,000 naira would henceforth be paid to the legend's mother.
He also presented Ramadan gifts, including a 50 kg bag of rice, 10 kg bag of wheat, and six tins of beverage to her.
Responding in quotes carried by the Daily Post, Alhaja Yekini said:
“I have been abandoned for a long time and have not seen any help from anyone.
“I was hospitalised for a few days some months ago and last month. I did cater for myself despite scarce resources. I need help from Nigerians.
“This Minister has done very well, especially remembering me in this holy month of Ramadan. Since my son died, it has been very tough for me because I do not have any help from people.
“Rashidi's siblings are not doing well too, so I was left to struggle for life every day.”
The Minister's representative also disclosed that the ministry would also be extending similar gestures to the mother of late Super Eagles player, Samuel Okwaraji, who died August 12, 1989.
