The Abia State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to Sports development and Youth Empowerment, pledging to harness Sports as a strategic platform for talent discovery, job creation and economic opportunity.
The Commissioner for Sports and Youth Development, Sir. Nwaobilor Ananaba stated this at the Aba Sports Club during Edition of the Rising Lion in Elephant Shadow Boxing Championship tagged ‘Enyimba 2025.
Sir Ananaba noted that the Governor Otti administration is deliberate in its efforts to reposition Sports in the state, noting that Abia is no longer where it used to be in the sector.
According to him, the professional boxing championship, which featured featherweight and lightweight bouts, aligns with the administration’s Sports development policy aimed at identifying and nurturing raw talents across the State.
Sir Ananaba expressed appreciation to Governor Otti for his consistent support for Youth development through Sports and commended the organisers of the event.
“We are organising events like this to ensure we identify talents, have a structure to nurture them, and make them the best athletes they can be.
“I’m grateful to His Excellency for giving us all the support. He just procured this boxing ring to encourage us to continue to discover talents. Today shows that His Excellency is supporting us in every way, whether sports or youth development”, he said.
The Commissioner urged young athletes to emulate the late Obisia Nwankpa, the celebrated Nigerian boxer, who brought honour to Abia State and Nigeria through his exploits in the ring.
In his remarks, the President-General of the Nigerian Supporters Club, Dr Rafiu Oladipo, applauded Governor Otti’s efforts in Sports development and called on Government’s at all levels to accord boxing the same attention given to football.
Dr Oladipo recalled that boxing was the first sport to project Nigeria positively on the global stage and paid tribute to former Nigerian boxers who enhanced the country’s image through their achievements.
“So if sports is the only thing that propagates our image positively outside, then it means we do need to give it all the support that it deserves”, Dr Oladipo said.
He also encouraged Youths to take their sporting careers seriously, noting that championships such as Enyimba 2025 provide a viable pathway for personal development and economic success.
“Sports today is about the biggest business for any individual, be it football or boxing”, he added.
Also speaking, the Abia State Director of Sports, Comrade Obioma George, described the championship as the first professional boxing event of its kind to be staged in the State.
He said the event coincided with two Abia-born boxers successfully defending their South-East titles and thankedGod for their victories, describing the outcome as a boost for boxing in the State.
Comrade George further acknowledged the donation of boxing equipment to Abia State by the two boxers, expressing optimism that the gesture would help the State achieve greater heights in boxing.
The event also featured the formal handover of a boxing ring procured on behalf of the state Government by an ex-boxer of Abia origin, Mr Ikechukwu Okoronkwo, who thanked Governor Otti for approving the proposal for the equipment and the championship without hesitation.
At the end of the championship, Zoe Chibuike Okoronkwo defended his featherweight title after defeating Nwambeke Ndubuisi by technical knockout. Israel Obinna Ogbodo defeated Udeh Chibuike, while Chinaza Ikechukwu Okoronkwo retained his lightweight title with a unanimous decision victory over Ede Emmanuel Peter.
