The tragic death of African American George Floyd has sparked Black Lives Matter movement across parts of the world, with Nigerian stars also lending their voices
Manchester United striker Odion Ighalo has called for young children to be appropriately educated on racial discrimination so that the next generation can learn to respect and ‘fight for humanity and not colours’.
Ighalo admits he was racially abused in the past while playing in China, but he insists he will not ignore the insults if it occurs again.
The 30-year-old forward moved to Chinese Super League side Shanghai Shenhua in 2017 after a decent career in Europe playing for Udinese, Granada, and Watford.
The former Super Eagles forward, in a chat with Sky Sports News, revealed that an opposition player in China once called him all sorts of names. He duly reported the racial abuse to the Chinese FA, but after no action was taken, he decided to ignore it and move on.
But the spotlight has been cast on racism globally in recent days after a Minneapolis police officer was caught on video snuffing life out of George Floyd with his knee.
Ighalo, who recently extended his loan deal at United, has called for justice to be done following the 46-year-old’s death.
The Nigerian forward also pleaded with people to recognize the humanity in each other despite the difference in skin colour.
“Nobody should condone racism,” said Ighalo.
“We are all human. Despite the colour of our skin, we are all the same, we live in the same world, the same life.
“I don’t condone racism, but at the same time, I don’t condone riots.
“It didn’t start today; it’s not going to end today. It’s going to take time. We are hoping this situation can change the narrative and make it more limited. It’s going to reduce it to a minimum.
“We are fighting now so that for the next generation it will be cut off, finally.
“We have to start from the younger generation, educate them, let them see that all humans are the same. We should fight for humanity, not colours.