By Oluwashina Okeleji BBC Sport, Lagos

Nwankwo Kanu has been helping homeless children in Nigeria

Kanu, who is also a Unicef ambassador, has been working on a programme not solely aimed at helping the children's footballing talent.

The programme brought together Fifa's Football for Hope, Search and Groom (the organisation behind the Homless World Cup) and Unicef to celebrate children and give them the opportunity to be heard while showcasing their various talents.

"The aim is to help less privileged children and also make them believe in themselves," Kanu told BBC Sport.

"There's no amount of success on the football pitch that can give me more smiles than the numbers of lives I've touched.

"As a father, the future of my child is always on my mind, so we must lead children properly.

"For me the role of charity is not to just talk but to commit myself to helping, the helpless and this is a significant role in my life.

"There are children out there who need just a little as they have nothing in this world, so through my position I hope to raise awareness about these important issues."

The projects brought together children aged between nine and 16 from deprived areas around the city of Lagos.

Kanu was impressed not only with the children's football skills but also their artistic ability.

"These kids remind me of when I was growing up as a little boy and I felt so emotional," he said.

The lanky striker is already well known for his work with the Kanu Heart Foundation that he set up after he was diagnosed with a faulty heart valve, 12 years ago.

His foundation has assisted several children to get much needed surgery for complicated heart problems.