NBF set to include Boxing into NUGA

By: Gyang Dakwo

In a move to promote Boxing in the country, the Nigerian Boxing Federation (NBF) is working towards the inclusion of boxing in the Nigerian University Games (NUGA).

This comes as the NBF in what has been described as a defense strategy and genuine sporting endeavor for students promised to help NUGA establish boxing in Nigerian Universities ahead of the 2024 NUGA Games in Jos.

The Federation plans to have a training tour of Nigerian Universities for prospective athletes and coaches with the plan to introduce a University Boxing League.

Vice President NBF, Azania Omo-Agege thanked NUGA for facilitating what he believes is the right move for the growth of Boxing in the country.

“On several occasions, boxing has been trying to come into Nigeria University Games Association because we believe in catching them young,” he said.

“We are excited about this project because the federation believes that this will help us find and groom future champions and bring back Olympic glory to Nigeria,” he added.

“We are very happy that NUGA agreed to partner with us and we are looking forward to how we can get boxing going. We are also asking for sponsorship, which will go very far in the sport,” he said.

The NUGA President Emeka Ogbu praised the collaboration with NBF as a worthwhile idea since it will allow students to focus their energy on boxing as well as combat anti-social behavior, and provide female students with self-defense skills.

His words: “As a matter of fact, we have in the universities our children who are full of energy waiting for somewhere to channel these energies. And we are happy to inform you that we are able to integrate boxing which forms part of the sporting programs in NUGA. Boxing has a lot of benefits to society in general and to the campuses in particular.”

“The initiative couldn’t have come at a better time than now that we have challenges especially security-wise, anti-social behaviors like raping on campuses,” he emphasized.

“Having made efforts to channel boxing into the games, it will equip especially our female students with the strength and skills to defend themselves. It is a kind of self-defense sport,” Ogbu said.

Boxing is expected to feature as the 18th medal sport at the 2024 Games at the University of Jos, joining other combatant sports like Taekwondo, Judo, and Karate which are medal sports at NUGA.