Why I built library for Enugu youths, children - Ex footballer, Ayaya Potential
American-based Nigerian ex footballer, Ikem Udeh, popularly known as “Ayaya Potential” has built a four storey library for youths and children in Enugu State capital.
The library known as Ikeh Udeh Foundation, and located at Agangwu in Coal Camp, Enugu, is equipped with computers, books for children and adults, and an event center.
Udeh, who played for Vasco Dagama, Julius Berger and Udorji United football clubs between 1989 and 1992, told the newsmen in Enugu on Friday that he decided to build the library to encourage young ones to gain access to knowledge.
“I was on the streets like these children and I don’t want them to make the same mistakes we made when we were growing up. We didn’t pay attention to education when we had the opportunity to do that.
“Again, I drove around Enugu a few years back and found out that there was a lack of libraries where children especially indigent ones, could have access to books, so I decided to build one for them here in Coal Camp where I grew up free of charge,” he said.
The ex footballer said he travelled to the United States as a scholarship athlete in 1992 in Alabama A&M University where he pursued his football career and also obtained a degree in Health and Physical Education.
Udeh, who was in Enugu to complete the library project, said he already had about 200 children who had access to the library adding that they were also mentored on Information Technology and public speaking.
He said the library which was already functional would be opened officially in June.
According to him, the library is open to everyone that wants to learn, free of charge. We have books for both young and old.
“I want to encourage parents to read for their children to imbibe the culture of reading and create opportunities for them. This is very important,” he said.
Apart from the library, Udeh said he had offered scholarships to 10 students in Enugu including two who were currently studying at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) as well as raised funds to cater for some widows and families of departed footballers in the East.
On football in Nigeria, he expressed dismay that football administrators focused more on winning tournaments than building for the future noting that there were no plans for feeders to catch them young.
The footballer, who also played for the junior and senior National team briefly, stressed the need to develop young players through football academies to win future competitions and also encouraged them to go to school.
He also noticed that only government football teams featured in the National league and urged individuals to own football clubs to develop future players.
”I started my football career from grassroots having played for my secondary school, College of Immaculate Conception (CIC) then to ASESA Warriors, NITEL Vasco Dagama, Udorji United, Julius Berger and then to the junior and National teams,” he said.
Supreme News reports that Ayaya Potential, as he is fondly called, played in major league soccer in the US for Kansas City Wizards where he won laurels for the team before he retired from football.
Udeh has written two books entitled “I chose America; Pursuing my Nigerian American Dream” which featured his life experience and another story book for children titled “Ayaya “.
