Pinnick mourns Executive Committee member Ofo Okenwa

Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) President Amaju Melvin Pinnick on Tuesday described as “huge shock” the demise of the Federation’s Executive Committee member Chidi Ofo Okenwa.

Ofo Okenwa, 50, died on Tuesday after illness according to family sources.

He was until his demise the Enugu State Football Association Chairman and head of Nigeria’s second tier league Nigerian National League (NNL).

A devastated Pinnick paid glowing tributes to Okenwa, who was part of a meeting of the NFF Executive Committee held via video conferencing penultimate Friday. It was that same day that Okenwa celebrated his 50th birthday.

“This is a huge shock. Each and everyone of us on the NFF Board is in absolute grief. Chidi (Okenwa) was a loyal soldier of Nigeria Football and was a leading member of our intellectual wing. This is a terrible blow.

“He was one man you can always rely on to give candid advice. We bounced ideas off him regularly and picked his brain on many issues because of his wide knowledge and decades of experience in football administration. We will sorely miss him,” Pinnick said.

The remains of the late Chidi Ofo Okenwa has been deposited in a mortuary in the city of Enugu and the NFF is in contact with his family with regards to a decision on the date of the final burial rites.