Foundation Praises Focus on Athletes’ Mental Health, Celebrates Recognition of Forgotten Sports Icons
The Cope and Live Mental Health Awareness Foundation has applauded Silvernews Communications and its Chief Executive Officer, Comrade Kennedy Onwunali, for the successful hosting of the maiden edition of the Wakawaka Sports Icon Awards held in Owerri on June 7, 2025.
In a commendation letter signed by the Foundation’s Executive Director, Reverend Chukwudiebube Nwachukwu, the event was described as a “bold and impactful step” towards promoting the often-overlooked topic of mental health in the world of sports.
We are pleased with the initiative, as it aligns perfectly with our mission. Your commitment to raising awareness about mental health, particularly in the context of sports, is both inspiring and impactful,” Reverend Nwachukwu stated.
The event featured a keynote address titled “Athletes’ Mental Health Vital for Peak Performance,” delivered by Coach Ebere Amaraizu, Chairman of the Rangers International Football Club (RIFC) Foundation and Lead Consultant at the Cope and Live Mental Health Awareness Foundation.
According to the Foundation, the awards ceremony not only celebrated excellence in sports but also brought to the forefront the importance of psychological resilience for athletes—an issue often overshadowed by physical achievements.
Among the honorees were several celebrated and forgotten contributors to Nigerian sports, including:
Coach Dan Anyiam (Posthumous Evergreen Award)
Dr. Patrick Ekeji (Pathfinder Sports Administration Award)
Mr. Ebi Egbe (Monimichelle) (Iconic Sports Facility Manager Award)
Cope and Live Foundation / Coach Ebere Amaraizu (Sports Foundation Award)
Other recipients included: Andrew Ekejiuba, Hon. Innocent Onwubuiko, Chief Kachi Atufule, Mrs. Sabina Chikere, Chief P.M.C. Okeke, Elder Theodore Tasie, Sylvanus Oparanozie (Bahama), Coach Nelly Orisakwe/Harmony Chidi (Young Female National Star), Cosmos Chukwuemeka, Mr. Charles Duruaku, Desire Oparanozie, Dr. Kachi Nwoga, Dr. Osondu Martin Ibegbu, Coach Ndidi Henry Mgbenwelu, Engineer Musa Kida, and Hon. Obinna Onyeocha.
By honoring these individuals, Silvernews has not only acknowledged their legacy but has inspired current and future athletes to embrace mental well-being as essential to their success,” Reverend Nwachukwu said.
The Foundation noted that the event aligns seamlessly with its core mission: raising awareness, reducing stigma, and providing support around mental health issues in Nigeria, particularly among high-performance and vulnerable groups such as athletes.
About the Foundation
The Cope and Live Mental Health Awareness Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving mental health literacy, offering free counseling services, training mental health advocates through its COLI Mental Health Academy, and advocating for progressive mental health policies in Nigeria. To date, the Foundation has reached over 10,000 individuals across communities and continues its work through strategic partnerships, including with the RIFC
Foundation.
