Sports
Boxing Champion Calls For More Tournaments
Local wrestlers in a contest
The current West African
Light Welterweight Champion Olaide Fijabi, has called for more boxing championships to improve the sport in the country.
Fijabi spoke to the newsmen during a reception in his honour by the Chairman of Lagos State Sport Commission (LSSC), Deji Tinubu.
He was crowned the West African Champion in the light welterweight category after he defeated, Djamiou Elepo of the Republic of Benin at the GOtv boxing event on March 25.
Prior to the fight, the boxer has won four gold medals at various Sports Festivals in Nigeria and in recognition of his achievements; the Lagos State Sports Commission employed him.
Fijabi told newsmen at the reception that boxing championships in the country were not enough for boxers to assess their skills.
He thanked GOtv for intervening, and urged other stake holders to sponsor more championships to improve boxers.
“I thank GOtv for the initiative to organise boxing championship in Nigeria, but we need more championships to enable us to keep fit and maintain our weight categories.
“When some people see us, they think as champions, we should be rich, but on the contrary, most of us cannot afford to feed ourselves.
“Some of our relatives are looking up to us for survival and they are often embarrassed when we cannot provide for them,’’ he told newsmen lamenting that there were boxers but not enough competitions.
“This has been our story so far, all because we don’t have championships.
“I can even say that the training equipment are not there for us. Boxing is almost gone in Nigeria before GOtv came to the rescue.’’
Fijabi commended the LSSC for supporting boxers from the state, urging other states to emulate the gesture.
“I am grateful to LSSC for giving me this opportunity. Although I have been courted by other states which I promised me some incentives but I am resolute to remain in Lagos.
“Lagos has provided me with training equipment and other incentives, including sponsoring me for the championship because I am on their payroll.
“I equally thank GOtv for bringing such a championship but I pray we have more championships to save the face of boxing in Nigeria.
“It is even sad to know that we don’t have boxing promoters again in the country, we need to do something about this,’’ the boxer said.
Fijabi added that if the country had wanted boxers to perform well at different international championships, it should address the dearth of local championships.
“We have potential boxers in the country, but we don’t have promoters to encourage them, everybody needs to look in this direction because only those professional promoters can do the job.
“Boxing is not a sport for all comers else they will mess up the game,’’ he stressed.
Earlier, Tinubu had said that the state would continue to identify with home grown talents.
“I will do everything within my capacity to sponsor Fijabi and encourage him, which is why he is on the payroll of the state.
“Whatever Lagos State will do to empower him, will be provided. We want to promote sports to the highest level in the country,’’ he said.
Contributing, Head of Public Relation Unit, LSSC, Titi Oshodi, said that the state was passionate about the promotion of sports.
“We are promoting them by employing some of them into the service of the state and also providing training equipment for them.
“The boxing gym is provided to them free and it is located at the Teslim Balogun Stadium. The facilities for other sports abound across the state,’’ she said.
Port Harcourt the capital city of Rivers State will be at the centre stage in Nigeria as Port Harcourt Arsenal Community will hold her maiden edition of Football Fans Fiesta (FFF).
The Fiesta scheduled to hold on the 13th December, 2025, at Eddiz wine bar GRA, promises to be all football fans carnival in the State , as there will be a lot of fanfares.
The Coordinator of Port Harcourt Arsenal Community (PHAC), Ugochukwu Oputa has said that the forthcoming Football Fans Fiesta was basically to promote peace, unity and love among football fans in irrespective of the cub.
He stated that sports is a catalyst to bring peace, love and Unity in any given society, hence the occasion was initiated.
Oputa said this in an interview with sports journalists in Port Harcourt yesterday, saying that arrangements are on top gear for a successful programme.
” This event is for all football fans irrespective of your club. It is basically to promote peace, love and Unity among fans.
“It is like stating the obvious that football is the catalyst of peace and unity in the world. So the Port Harcourt Arsenal Community want to use this avenue to bring people together and foster friendship.
“There is no gate fee, but it is expected to put on jersey of your club as to make the event look unique” Oputa said.
The Coordinator used the forum to advice football fans in the world to love one another, and equally urged fans that will attend the occasion to be of good conduct and behaviour.
Tonye Orabere
Consistent with its project execution routine, Dunamis-Icon Limited, Project Consultants of the Niger Delta Games, has concluded the first phase of physical inspection and evaluation of facilities for the event, 24 hours after the presentation of the hosting right to Edo State was performed.
The project management team was guided round select facilty locations in Benin City by Desmond Amadin Enabulele, Executive Chairman of the Edo State Sports Commission, and the team leader, Sir Itiako Ikpokpo expressed satisfaction with the sports infrastructure assets of the host.
“Edo is a ready-made choice based on all the factors that are necessary to host this kind of big event. We are expecting over 3000 athletes coaches, alongside journalists and technical officials, with an approximate number of people outside spectators in the range of 5000. So, we need facilities that work for the games itself”, Ikpokpo explained.
He commended the Edo State Government for the good state of facilities at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, and promised that the state will be assisted with the renovation of some of the facilities as may be necessary to ensure good competition experience for the athletes.
“I have been to the iconic Ogbe Stadium and must commend the Edo State Government for maintaining the facilities there. We are also considering taking some events to the University of Benin, so that people in that part of the city can also feel and enjoy the fun. Where need be, we will also see how to assist the state and the University of Benin to add value to some of the sporting facilities”.
Dunamis Icon Limited is the franchise rights owner to the games conceived and designed to provide a platform for unity and integration, and identifying and grooming talented youths from the region into national and international stars.
The NDDC as the flagship interventionist agency for the nine states that make up the region, is the prime sponsor of the games as part of their strategic focus on youth engagement and human capital development.
The inspection tour began at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, after a brief meeting with Enabulele and the Sports Commission team at his office.
Areas inspected include the stadium’s main bowl, the tartan track, the state box, the VIP lounges and other key areas like the ceremonial room, the media studio and other indoor facilities.
Other facility locations assessed are the Wire Road Sports Centre being listed to host basketball and volleyball games, the University of Benin Sports Complex, and the Etete Sports Centre.
In the entourage of Dunamis-Icon were the Project Director, Mr Fred Edoreh; Director of Facilities and Equipment, Dr Emmanuel Ochuko Igbigbisie; the head of Communications, Harry Iwuala; Head of Transport and Logistics, Israel Umueri Afoke. Others are Theresa Ineke, Head of Secretariat, Godwin Enakhena, the Head of Scouting, Mr. Edi Lawani, the Head of Culture Affairs and Entertainment and Elder Siegha Porbeni of the Technical Department.
The Edo Sports Commission Chairman was also supported by Hon. Frank Ilaboya and Mrs Sabina Chikere, Executive Directors, with Mr Baldwin Bazuaye (MON) also in the company.
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