Chief Donatus Agu-Ejidike, JP, who is also Nigeria's Pillar of Sports, has expressed sadness over the death of one of Nigeria's foremost Football club owners and sports philanthropist late Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu. 

Late Chief Iwuanyanwu who was the Proprietor of Iwuanyanwu Nationale Football club which is now rechristened Heartland FC Owerri.

The 'Aha-Eji- Aga-Mba 1' of Ikeduru LGA joined his ancestors on Thursday 25 July 2024 after a brief illness at the age of 82 years.

Reacting to the death of the Publisher of Champions Newspapers, the Nigeria Pillar of Sports Chief Ejidike described the late billionaire businessman and CEO of Hardel & Enic Construction Nigeria Limited as 'a renowned sports philanthropist and great supporter cum sponsor of Football and other sports in Nigeria'. 

Ejidike recalled how the late President of Ohaneze Ndigbo used his Oriental Airlines to airlift players and sports personalities to attend international championships. 

Chief Ejidike added that the late Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu was a strong believer in the development of youths through sports even as he said that the death of such a personality has created a big vacuum difficult to fill.

The former President of the Karate Federation of Nigeria prayed God to grant the family of the deceased the fortitude to bear the loss and to grant his soul eternal rest.