Nigerian Boxing: Overcoming Obstacles and Embracing Opportunities

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March 31, 2025
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Abraham Felix

Nigerian boxing, a sport steeped in history with iconic figures like Dick Tiger, Hogan ‘Kid’ Bassey and Samuel Peter, faces a stark contrast between its glorious past and its current struggles. While the legacy remains, significant challenges impede its progress.

However, a surge of opportunities, particularly through strategic private sector investment, offers a beacon of hope for a resurgence on the global stage.

Nigeria’s Boxing Heritage

Nigeria’s boxing narrative began in the mid-20th century with Hogan ‘Kid’ Bassey’s 1957 featherweight world title. Dick Tiger’s subsequent two-weight world championships cemented Nigeria’s boxing pedigree. In the 21st century, Samuel Peter’s WBC heavyweight title and Anthony Joshua’s unified heavyweight reign have continued to fly the Nigerian flag high.

Over the decades, Nigeria has continued to produce world-class pugilists. Samuel Peter, known as the ‘Nigerian Nightmare,’ became the WBC heavyweight champion in 2008, showcasing Nigeria’s resilience and strength in the ring. More recently, Anthony Joshua, a British-Nigerian boxer, has carried the Nigerian flag high, becoming a two-time unified heavyweight champion and one of the most recognizable figures in the sport today.

Challenges Facing Nigerian Boxing

One of the biggest setbacks for Nigerian boxing is the shortage of well-equipped gyms and training centres. Many young boxers train in makeshift facilities with outdated equipment, limiting their ability to develop world-class skills. Without access to modern infrastructure, Nigerian fighters struggle to compete with their international counterparts.

Unlike football, boxing in Nigeria receives minimal government and corporate funding. Many talented boxers rely on personal savings or support from local communities to finance their training and competitions. The absence of lucrative sponsorship deals means fewer professional opportunities, leading many athletes to abandon the sport prematurely.

The governance of Nigerian boxing has been plagued by mismanagement, lack of transparency, and infighting among officials. These issues affect the organization of local competitions and hinder effective talent development programmes. Without a strong administrative backbone, Nigerian boxing struggles to attract investors and international promoters.

Many Nigerian boxers struggle to break into the global boxing scene due to limited access to international competitions. Unlike boxers from countries with strong networks, Nigerian fighters often lack proper representation, making it harder to secure fights in top promotions like the WBC, WBA, and IBF.

Football dominates the Nigerian sports scene, leaving little room for boxing. Media coverage of boxing events is sparse, and public interest remains low compared to football or athletics. This lack of visibility affects revenue generation and reduces the chances of young talents considering boxing as a viable career option.

Opportunities for Growth

Despite the challenges, Nigeria boasts a pool of raw boxing talent. Grassroots initiatives and amateur competitions continue to unearth promising fighters. With better investment in training programmes, Nigeria can develop world-class champions in the coming years.

There is a growing interest from private organizations willing to invest in Nigerian boxing. Dr. Ezekiel Adamu, a sports entrepreneur, through his platform, GameRush, is championing a new era of boxing and empowering the Nigerian youth. Increased corporate sponsorship can lead to better training facilities, bigger events and financial stability for athletes.

Nigerian boxers can also benefit from partnerships with foreign boxing organizations and training camps. More fighters training abroad or competing in international tournaments will improve their experience and competitiveness.

Establishing relationships with global boxing bodies can also create pathways for Nigerian fighters to enter the professional circuit. The rise of digital media offers a chance to boost boxing’s visibility in Nigeria. With social media and streaming platforms, local boxing events can reach a wider audience. Promoters and athletes can leverage platforms like YouTube, Instagram, and pay-per-view services to engage fans and attract sponsorships.

If the Nigerian government recognizes boxing as a priority sport, increased funding and policy support can change the landscape. Introducing tax incentives for sponsors, improving sports facilities, and organizing national competitions can significantly boost the sport’s growth.

Nigerian boxing stands at a crossroads. While there are many challenges to overcome, the opportunities for growth are equally promising. With better investment, strategic planning, and increased global exposure, Nigeria has the potential to reclaim its place as a powerhouse in the boxing world. By addressing these issues, the nation can produce more world champions and inspire the next generation of fighters.

* Mr. Felix, a commentator, writes from Lagos

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April 3, 2025
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Orutugu: Police Poised to Avert Any Crisis During Anambra’s Guber Poll

Anambra State Commissioner of Police, Ikioye Orutugu, in this interview speaks about the new found peace in the state, but insists that under his watch, the command won’t tolerate any political crisis especially during the forthcoming gubernatorial election in the state. David-Chyddy Eleke brings excerpts:

We noticed there have been relative peace in Anambra since you came on board over a month ago. Did you adopt any strategy?

There is no special strategy, there may be a pattern of action that is determined by the challenge at hand, but definitely not a strategy. If that is what you call a strategy, then fine, but I cannot say there is a strategy we have evolved to treat all cases. We just take each case with the challenge they come with. We came into Anambra State with the proper knowledge of the feeling of Anambra people, and we know that Anambra people have gone through a lot and do not want to continue with this kind of insecurity.

When I came here, I asked myself are Anambra people happy the way they are and I felt they are not. There is no way they will be happy. This is not the Anambra that is known all over the world, especially for their ingenuity in business and any field of life.

So I said to myself, why won’t they enjoy their game? Anambra people have a right to self fulfillment and Anambra people deserve to enjoy peace, and I know that the people are tired of the bloodletting in their state, and grace has paved way for me to operate here.

The peace we have today is not by my might, but the grace of God and support of sister agencies like the army, DSS , civil defence, Navy, etc. So if you talk about any form of strategy, then I will say there is no conceived strategy. I’m proud to say that since I arrived this state, not a bullet has been shot at the police and none has been shot at criminals. So I want to thank even the criminals for all the peace they have given us. Any how you want to look at it, we have to even thank the IPOB people because they have remained on their lane since I came here, so we must thank them. I don’t want to see them as criminals. As long as they remain on their lane, I have no problem with them. But I want to say that I will revenge any touch on any police officer in this command as far as I’m here. They should remain the way they are and let us remain as we are, so that we can all move on the part of development.

How will you have development when you harass and kidnap construction workers who are coming to bring development in your community? Look at the sit at home thing, Anambra which is the pride of Nigeria in business, through where the people have become so rich, even though it has no known mineral resources like other states, but they have continued to top the chart in wealth through internally generated revenue, but here people want to deny the Anambra man the opportunity to come out on Monday after resting over the weekend, then you must know that they are invoking poverty on themselves. Let Anambra people know that if they obey sit at home, they are invoking poverty on themselves. That is why government, in collaboration with the police are doing all that we can to ensure the safety of the people. Why can you tell the people to stay at home because of your political stand? There are better ways to go about agitations, not suffering your own people. If you kill 10 police officers here, majority of them are either from the South East or even from Anambra, so you are killing your own people. If they burn police station, I doubt if the federal government will wake up one morning and leave every project it has, to allocate money for the reconstruction of burnt police stations. So it is still money that the state would have put into other things that they now spend to do these things. They should think of more better ways and maybe one day, their demands may come to pass.

But if you think you will make such demands through killing of security officers, then it may not work. That is why we are continually pleading with the youths to continue to keep the peace, and if they don’t, then we will engage them.

You inherited problems when you came here, and I want you to speak about the children who were killed and stuffed in a freezer in Nnewi, and the lawmaker whose killers escaped. What have you done about that so far?

I said we will get them, but you must know that those crimes happened before I came here. I was not even aware of the killing of the lawmaker, because it happened before I came here and took over. It was when I heard of the escape of some suspects that I started asking questions to know the circumstances under which they escaped and was told they were people who were involved in the kidnap and eventual killing of the lawmaker, Hon Justice Azuka. There are certain things I do not have the authority to comment on. I was not even told of the case and it was not handed to me. If you come into an office and you were not handed over all the assets and liabilities of that office, you can not claim what you don’t know of or was not given. I came in and heard of it and started making inquiries.

At this point, I want to plead with the media, that whatever they are writing about security in Anambra State should be from February 10, 2025 when I took over this office. I cannot inherit the liability of other people. I can tell you that since I came here, the men and officers of the command have been gingered. I know that Anambra people support what we are doing, and we have been working to ensure that the state is secured. We will continue to work and ensure this and we are hopeful that we will keep the state safe like this for three months before we will come out and celebrate.

Anambra communities appear to have too many crisis, be it land or leadership tussle. What is the command doing in this regard?

It is in human nature to have crisis. There are crises in Anambra communities, even in my own community in Bayelsa where I come from, there are also crises. Even God knows that human nature is full of crisis and acknowledges so.

Most times, people attribute insecurity to happenings around political circles, especially as many politicians have loyalists.

It’s an election year in Anambra and very soon, politics will begin to heat up. What is your promise to the state as they get ready for the election?

I want to be frank. It took me two weeks after arriving in Anambra for me to know that this is an election year for the state. I came here without that knowledge. I only came here with one thing in mind, and that is to tackle the insecurity that the state has been witnessing. I’m a very pragmatic person and I tackle issues as they come. As for election, I want to tell you that election is for politicians, and police is for tackling insecurity. I will only say that we hope that politicians will conduct themselves well during the election, and we will not have any problem with them.

We will not tolerate crisis that will engulf Anambra state. I’m myself a product of crisis, I’m an ijaw man from Bayelsa State. With due respect, I want to say that there is no crisis going on here that Bayelsa has not tasted. In fact, there is no crisis going on here. Nothing is new to me and nothing agitates me. So, I want to say that even if the election is coming up tomorrow, we are ready for it, and I can only say that those who will get trouble from us are those who want to give trouble to Anambra, but those who want peace will reap peace.

Anambra State Commissioner of Police, Ikioye Orutugu, in this interview speaks about the new found peace in the state, but insists that under his watch, the command won’t tolerate any

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April 3, 2025
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How Lagos State, Lafarge Africa Plc is Engendering Sustainable Solid Waste Management

Effective waste management is a critical challenge for rapidly growing cities like Lagos. To address this, Lafarge Africa Plc has partnered the Lagos State Government to enhance solid waste management through sustainable solutions. This collaboration aims to reduce landfill waste, promote waste-to-energy initiatives, and support Lagos’ vision of a cleaner, greener city. Esther Oluku reports

As urbanisation accelerates, waste management remains a pressing challenge for cities like Lagos. In response, Lafarge Africa Plc has partnered the Lagos State Government to implement sustainable waste management solutions.

This collaboration aims to reduce landfill waste, promote waste-to-energy initiatives, and support Lagos’ vision of a cleaner, more environmentally friendly city. Through innovative approaches and strategic partnerships, the initiative reinforces Lafarge Africa’s commitment to sustainability and climate action.

Essentially, Lafarge Africa continues to take significant steps towards a cleaner, more sustainable future, collaborating with diverse stakeholders to achieve meaningful and lasting impact. The company has over the years leveraged the expertise, resources, and networks of various organisations, including government bodies, non-profit organisations, research institutions, local communities, and industry associations. A collective approach that allows for a comprehensive understanding of the challenges faced and facilitates the development and implementation of innovative solutions.

Strategic Partnership with Lagos State Government

Recently, Lafarge Africa signed a Memorandum of Understanding on solid waste management with the Lagos State Government through the Lagos State Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources for the collection of non-recyclable combustible waste around the state and landfill sites.

A partnership the Managing Director of Lafarge Africa Plc, Lolu Alade-Akinyemi, described as a unique opportunity that “will strengthen the firm’s leadership in sustainable construction and climate action and allow both parties to make meaningful contributions to sustainable waste management in Nigeria.”

Addressing Lagos’ Waste Management Challenges

According to a 2024 report by Punch Newspaper, Lagos produces approximately 13,000–15,000 metric tonnes of solid waste, equivalent to approximately 490 trailers per day, a task that the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), the agency saddled with the collection and disposal of municipal and industrial waste in the state, has managed effectively. Although informal settlements and poor waste disposal practices continue to exacerbate the issues.

This makes the intervention of Lafarge Africa timely and pivotal, a view buttressed by the Lagos State Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, who highlighted the development as a landmark milestone that “will enable Lafarge Africa to support the state’s vision of a cleaner Lagos in line with the Lagos Waste Management Authority’s ambitious zero waste to landfill objective.”

Lafarge Africa’s Commitment to Sustainability

Lafarge Africa has been at the forefront of sustainability in its operations, a feat that has positioned the innovative cement company as a leader in sustainable solutions. It continues to seek out opportunities for collaboration across sectors, both public and private, in order to push innovation and diminish negative impacts resulting from its operations while shaping a greener future.

From launching Nigeria’s first green depot and electric truck fleet to launching innovative products like the Eco Label cement brand, offering high-performance, sustainable, and circular construction materials for customers, thereby enabling them to contribute to the country’s carbon reduction goals, the company continues to demonstrate its commitment to reducing emissions and building a greener future.

Geocycle: Driving a Zero-Waste Future

The company has been able to thrive on its sustainability journey many thanks to its waste management arm, Geocycle, Nigeria’s first full-fledged professional waste management service provider. Geocycle handles waste from a variety of waste-generation sectors, including production, FMCG, and manufacturing, in a safe, sustainable, and environmentally friendly manner.

Through this, Geocycle is working towards attaining A Zero-Waste Future and the global goal of Zero Waste to Landfill and Waste-to-Energy (WtE) as the company collects waste and converts it to the energy required to fire the kiln for cement production.

So, it was no surprise during the signing of the MOU that Alade-Akinyemi, explaining that Lafarge intends to collect non-recyclable and combustible waste and divert it to the Ewekoro Plant as an alternative fuel for production, confidently said, “All of these will be powered by Geocycle, our waste management arm.”

Environmental and Economic Impact

The extension of the company’s sustainable expertise to Lagos affirms its successful deployment of waste-to-energy solutions globally, which is inherent in its operations and embedded in its DNA. As a leader in building solutions and a responsible corporate citizen, the company recognises that managing waste effectively is critical to environmental stewardship, community well-being, and long-term economic development.

The initiative poses a broader environmental impact beyond the immediate advantages to Lafarge Africa and Lagos State because the waste sourced through the partnership will be utilised as an alternative fuel in the company’s cement kilns, replacing fossil fuels and reducing carbon footprint, which results in a huge contribution to Nigeria’s decarbonisation journey.

Strengthening Industry Collaborations

Through the years, Lafarge Africa has partnered with various organisations across different sectors, thereby strengthening its leadership in sustainable construction and climate action.

One of such is with Nestlé Nigeria Plc to reduce emissions by 2030 and ultimately attain net-zero by 2050. Another is in the oil and gas industry, a collaboration with Chevron Nigeria to address urban waste management challenges with the inauguration of a new Alternative Fuel and Raw Material (AFR) platform at its Mfamosing plant in Cross River State.

The successes recorded in these various partnerships have been remarkable, hence, the confidence that the new venture with Lagos State Government will bring about a positive turnaround as expressed by the Managing Director of LAWMA, Dr Muyiwa Gbadegesin, “With this collaboration, we are setting a new precedence on how municipal solid waste is processed and repurposed.”

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