John Utaka Foundation Launch

MONTPELLIER striker John Utaka flagged off a charity organisation that is dedicated to helping educate and empower less-privileged children and youth within marginalised communities on Sunday in London.

The John Utaka Foundation was launched amidst a cream of dignitaries and a team of professional colleagues in a lavish dinner held at the banquet hall of the Hilton Hotel in Paddington.


AsakeOge was invited to do a small catwalk show at this event on the 6th May 2012.
 
It had previously been a busy week and I only started making my dress for the event saturday night. I actually finished it about 2pm and the event started 7pm!
 

With John Utaka himself

 With Ms Pauline Long, Founder BEFFTA, Businesswoman and award winning philanthropist

 With Organizer of the event, Fatime Jabbe

 With my models

 With Gospel Artist rebecca and Chichi, Miss Nigeria UK

 With Comedian Julius Agwu

 Prepping the girls for the runway show

The event was hosted by Fatima Jabbe, a BEFFTA winning actress and event’s organizer. Fatima was supported by Multi award winning Theodora Ibekwe (founder of Miss Elegant International and a Nollywood Actress).


John Utaka was supported by fellow footballers such as Danny Shittu and the Sodje brothers. The Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) Chairman and General Julius Maada Bio (rtd) Sierra Leonean presidential aspirant were also in attendance.
John Utaka in his keynote speech said that the “foundation is a long term project that I guide close to my heart” which meant so much to him to be able to give back to society.
The red carpet event was attended by personalities such as Miss Nigeria UK, May7ven who entertained with her top selling single. Alexander Amosu (OK Nigeria), Danny Shittu, Nollywood actor Bob Manuel Udokwu, Ex Nig International-Efe sodje, the chairman of the sodje sports foundation-steve sodje, Nottingham forest defender- Sam Sodje, Mark Wright of BBC1 sports, Akin Salami, Tosh mag and TV publisher- Shoggy Tosh, Mrs. Ijeoma Udechukwu, Miss Tutu of tutu balloons, Miss Theodora Ibekwe, Fatima Jabbe, Vanessa Amadi, Michael Djaba, Usma Abubakar.
The fundraising dinner include auctions for Arik and Virgin flight tickets to Nigeria and Ghana, overnight stay at the Ghyll Manor Hotel. Barclays Bank donated the sum of £1,500 towards the foundations cause.