by Ijeoma Chigbu

In a groundbreaking move, renowned boxing promoter, Akeem Akinade who doubles as the chief executive officer of Youfitbox Promotion has announced the New National title Belt Reborn, an historic event that is set to revolutionize the Nigerian boxing sector. 

A collaborative effort between Youfitbox Promotion and the Nigeria Boxing Board of Control (NBB of C) will bring the highly anticipated event to life at Shalom Park, spec Lagos KLM 5, Lasu Isheri road, unity bus stop opposite Alimosho General Hospital Igando Lagos, on February 16th, 2025

The exciting undercard features twelve thrilling bouts, showcasing some of Nigeria’s most talented boxers.

Dauda Azeez from Badagry will make his debut against Onabanjo  Sulaiman from Ogun State in a 4-round National flyweight challenge.

In a 6-round National bantamweight challenge, Seun Touch from Lagos will face off with Akeem Shonubi from Ogun State

Oliwo Kazeem from Ajegule, Lagos, will battle Hammed Qudus from Agege, Lagos, in a 6-round National featherweight bout.

Other exciting matchups include 

Amosun Williams Kaki from Badagry clashes with Saheed Sodiq from Ajegule in a 6-round super lightweight HBE Title fight challenge

Isaac Chukwudi DSTAR from Agege battles Arabambi Ojo from Ibadan in a 6-round National light welterweight bout.

Abdul Azeez osoba from lagos bariga goes head to head with Emmanuel chidi from Ibadan in a 6-round National Welterweight Challenge 

Obizulike Chigbo Elisha from lasu battles Abiola Mukaila from Isheri oshun in a 6-round HBE Title belt welterweight contest 

Idris Hamza from Igando Lagos takes on Dominic Moses from Ajegule in a 6 Round National middleweight challenges Bout

Richard uzoni faces KABIRU sadalah

Hammed rasak battles opeyemi adekoya while Alimi sikiru

takes on kehide in their own bout

The main event of the evening promises to be a showstopper, as Sodiq Oyakojo (Golden Boy) from Ejigbo, Lagos, takes on Azeez Ayobami from Ibadan in a 10-round National super featherweight national title belt challenge.

Over 1000 kiddies are expected to take part in the first honorable lanre okunola primary school basketball clinic 

The clinic put together by impact kiddies sports project in conjunction with Lagos State subeb and the Lagos State sports commission is aimed to select talented players for the world under 12 basketball championship in Italy in June 

The one day exercise billed for February 20th 2025 at the national stadium surulere Lagos is open to subeb selected schools in Lagos mainland, surulere and shomolu 

As part of its mission to develop and showcase exceptional young talent, impact kiddies sports project is committed to selecting and training outstanding youth basketball players from Lagos State to represent Nigeria on the global stage. This event marks a significant step in the journey to the World Youth Games

President, impact kiddies sports project in igie Adams commended honourable lanre okunola for coming on board to support the project while charging corporate bodies and government to key into thier vision of raising worthy ambassadors for the country through the slamming and dunking game 

” We are excited about this latest development, honourable lanre okunola is a former basketball player he understands the game and the impact this will have on the lives and career of the players . We need more of such spirited Nigerians to come our aid in ensuring this kids travel to Italy and do the country proud” He said 

The clinic will emphasize the transformative impact of the World Youth Games on Nigerian youth, not only in sports but also in leadership, teamwork, and global representation. 

President African Table Tennis Federation, ATTF, Enitan Oshodi says sports fared well in nigeria last year but noted that the country would have achieved more if some steps were taken at the right 

The former Commissioner for Sports in Lagos State adds that for nigeria to rub shoulders with world top stars in sports regular competitions, proper funding, standard facilities are key to achieving such succes

The ATTF boss stated that

Table tennis is an enormous product and  needs innovative thinking to make it lucrative for the players on the continent 

“I’ve been around the sport for a few years now so we know where the problems lie. Our problems lie around funding, equipment, and things like that. And this all goes back to money, I believe we’ve built a sufficiently good team now to help us harness the funding we need, speak to corporate bodies, to governments  across the continent. We have that kind of pull.

Nigeria especially, will have a big role to play in table tennis because they’ve been doing well in the last few years. But there’s a lot more we can do to help them, in terms of coaching, in terms of training. we’ve worked with the president before in Lagos, and we know how he helped us then, and we hope he’ll be able to help us. Shehu Dikko, Bukky Olopade, they are people who are very conversant that we think they can lead maybe a good a charge now for Nigeria to move into the, what I call, the first world of sports”. He said 

As the elections into the various positions of the sports federation is expected to hold this year 

The former chairmam of the Lagos State table tennis Association advices on what electorates should look out for in electing persons who drive the desired positive change and growth in nigeria sports sector 

“This is the time for people with capacity to come forward, it’s not for people just looking for a living, there’s no living as a president of a federation, you need to go and find the money, you need to bring your sponsors in and work well with the federal government. So we’re looking for people that have the right capacity. My advise close to the time would be for us to call out and seek out people who we know can do this and hopefully they can get elected. It’s not enough saying he has been there since, we need to access performance and hopefully get people with capacity to do the job”. He said 

Enitan Oshodi remains the first Nigerian to be elected into the board of the Commonwealth Table Tennis Federation and the first Nigerian to be elected ATTF President.