One of the Coordinators of the 2025 Kanu Heart Foundation World Heart Day Solidarity Walk, Mo Muhammed, has called on the people of Imo State to turn out in large numbers for this year’s edition of the annual event, themed “Hope for Healthy Heart Walk.”
Speaking in a press conference held at Kanu Sports Centre in Owerri on Friday, September 26th ahead of the programme, scheduled for Sunday, September 28 and Monday, September 29, 2025, Muhammed highlighted the significance of the walk and the life-changing impact of the Kanu Heart Foundation over the past 25 years.
“Kanu Heart Foundation was founded in 2000, and since then, more than 500 children and adults across Nigeria have benefitted from successful heart surgeries,” Muhammed said. “From Abuja to Lagos, Port Harcourt, Aba, and Enugu, we’ve taken this campaign to different parts of the country. Now, it’s Imo’s turn to walk with Kanu to mark World Heart Day.”
According to him, the two-day programme in Owerri will begin with a novelty football match on Sunday, September 28, at the Dan Anyiam Stadium. The match will feature Nigerian football legends, including Emmanuel Amuneke, Victor Ikpeba, Mobi Oparaku, Ifeanyi Ekwueme, Obinna Nwaneri, and Kanu Nwankwo, who will take on a team of Imo legends.
The solidarity walk itself will take place on Monday, September 29, starting from the Kanu Sports Centre at 8 a.m. Participants will walk a 5-kilometre route through the Government House area before returning to the starting point. Muhammed assured that the walk will not only be about exercise but will also include fun activities and free medical check-ups.
“Our heart is one of the most essential parts of the body, and the importance of exercise cannot be overemphasized. This year’s theme, ‘Hope for a Healthy Heart Walk,’ is about giving hope to Imo people to walk, exercise, and better their hearts. I want to call on everyone in Imo not to miss it,” he appealed.
Since inception, the Kanu Heart Foundation—established by Nigerian football icon Nwankwo Kanu—has facilitated over 500 heart surgeries, spending over $4.2 million, and partnering with organizations like Power Oil to promote awareness and support children with heart-related ailments.
This year’s walk in Owerri continues the foundation’s mission of raising awareness about cardiovascular health, encouraging healthy lifestyles, and supporting those affected by heart disease.
