Daniel Kanu

Daniel Kanu Biography / Profile

Prince Daniel Ihediohanma Kanu was born on January 20th, 1971 in Aba, Abia State (old Imo State), Nigeria. He was born to a traditional ruler, His Royal Highness Maxwell O. Kanu, and Lolo Beatrice N. Kanu, both natives of Aro-Ndizuogu, Ideato North, Imo State. He is an entrepreneur, philanthropist and politician known for his support of the General Sani Abacha millitary regime.

Daniel Kanu Age

Daniel Kanu is 53 years old.

Daniel Kanu Early Life

Daniel attended Constitutional Crescent Primary School, Aba, and then graduated to Federal Government College Okigwe, Imo State. In 1985, Daniel relocated to the United States and attended Liberty Junior High School, Richardson, Texas, where he was an "A" honor roll student. There he received numerous certificates for his academic record and perfect school attendance. Beginning in 1987, he attended Berkner High School and Richardson High School where he performed extraordinarily both academically and athletically, establishing himself as an outstanding American Football player.

In 1990, he graduated from North Garland High School, Garland, Texas. He continued on to receive an academic and athletic (American Football) scholarship to Northwestern University, Illinois at their School of Education and Social Policy. Later that year he transferred to University of Oklahoma to continue his education and football career. In 1991, he enrolled at the University of Oklahoma from where he obtained a certificate in International Business and Marketing and proved to be an extraordinary Football player.

Daniel Kanu Career

Daniel's dreams and ambition compelled him to relocate back to Nigeria to pursue his business career and to focus his efforts upon uplifting the youth of that nation. In 1994, he founded DIK International Limited, a trading company with an initial focus on construction and importation of commodities from the United States into Nigeria. The company later diversified into the realms of real estate, oil and gas, and supplies.

In 1995, the Board of Directors of FASEL Services Limited, owners of Agura Hotel, Abuja, appointed Daniel as the Managing Director of the company, where he served meritoriously and steadily built his reputation. While in Nigeria he recognized the need to protect the marine environment due to rampant negligence on the part of polluters and their authorities. To address this issue he set out to create awareness of the ship generated waste discharged without regards to international and local laws in Nigeria. His effort earned him a consultancy position with the Nigerian Government Agency, National Maritime Authority (now Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency-NIMASA). His effort formed the basis of a Public-Private-Partnership in the maritime environmental services at NIMASA and Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA).

In 1997 he became the Chairman of Youths Earnestly Ask for Abacha (YEAA), a pressure group that campaigned for the implementation of a strategic developmental road plan for the industrialization of Nigeria known as the vision 2010. The group recognized the tendency of successive governments to discard or abandon laudable projects, which often led to uncompleted projects and wasted resources. The group urged late Gen. Sani Abacha to usher in democracy for Nigeria by contesting for Presidency in 1998, hence ensuring continuity of the vision 2010 road map.

On March 3rd and 4th 1998, Daniel organized The 2 Million Man March, which was the largest political rally in the history of Nigeria, to support the emergence of Democracy under the leadership of General Abacha. That same year in May, DIK International Ltd. entered into discussion with Marathon Oil Corporation USA for the exploration and development of the oil block. June 8th, General Abacha, Head of State and Commander in Chief of The Federal Republic of Nigeria died. In August, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, new Head of State of Nigeria puts OPL 242 on hold. The Nigerian President Abdulsalam Abubakar cancelled his oil block allocated in 1998.

In 2000, Kanu emerged as the Chairman of Body Builders Association of Nigeria, a non-profit organization that sought to encourage good physical being amongst the Nigerian Youth by promoting physical education and competitions. That same year he founded Daniel Kanu Youth Foundation, a non-profit organization committed to supporting youth development by promoting sports and education amongst youths. From then until today, the Daniel Kanu Youth Foundation has made many different contributions to orphanages, schools and Universities throughout Nigeria, including the sponsoring of the FCT FA Football League, and has helped many youths obtain an education. In 2001 he founded Cleanall Environmental Services and partnered with Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) for the prevention of pollution and protection of marine life through enforcement of the International Maritime MARPOL-ACT. The board of NPA conspired to sabotage Cleanall Environmental Services by committing industrial espionage.

Daniel joined politics in 2002 when he won the ticket to represent Amac/Bwari Federal Constituency in the Federal House of Representatives. In November of the same year the President of Nigeria, Olusegun Obasanjo, through the National Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Chief Andy Ogbe, annulled Daniel Kanu's victory.

In 2004 the Federal Government of Nigeria reinstated a portion of Cleanall Environmental Services contract at the Nigerian Port Authority. Right: Daniel Kanu and executives of the New Deal Organization with children at Karu Orphanage, Abuja.

In 2006 he was disqualified from contesting for the Federal House of Representatives by President Olusegun Obasanjo, as retribution for supporting for General Abacha. In September 2010 Daniel Kanu led a civic group, the Coalition for Fresh Air, to campaign for future Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan’s candidacy in the 2011 general election. He led the campaign to convince Nigerians in the United States to be democratic and vote for his candidate in that election.

In 2014 Kanu re-launched the New Deal Organization with programs like Parents Against Crime Together (PACT) and Youth Against Crime Together (Y-ACT) to lead a moral reorientation in an attempt to fight crime, terrorism, and moral decadence through the grassroots by teaching parents and kids their respective responsibilities as law abiding citizens of Nigeria. He has declared his intention to run for the office of the governor of Imo State in the 2019 general elections.

Daniel Kanu Personal Life

Prince Daniel is married to Kimberley Kanu. They have numerous children including; Destiny, Danika, Deandra, Darcy, Sarah, Rachel, Beatrice, Daniel, Caring, Brenda, Obinna and Josephine.

Daniel Kanu Awards

In 1992 Kanu received a Certificate of Accomplishment for successful participation in Project Business.
He also received an Associates of Arts from Richland College, Dallas, Texas
In April 1998, DIK International Ltd. was awarded an Oil Prospecting License for an ultra-deep water oil block several miles offshore from the Nigerian coast.