Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, has announced that former two-time world heavyweight boxing champion Anthony Joshua will serve as the torchbearer for the rescheduled 2024 National Sports Festival.
The Governor revealed this during a visit by the British-Nigerian boxer to his office in Ogun State on Monday.
“I want to openly request that, besides the fact that today we are going to officially confirm you as our sports ambassador, we want to request that you come back to light up the Gateway Sports Festival torch; you will be the one lighting it up,” Abiodun said.
The Governor also shared plans to build a new Anthony Joshua Indoor Boxing Ring in Abeokuta, adding, “We are going to construct a brand new Anthony Joshua Indoor Boxing Ring, and that boxing ring will be in a stadium here in Abeokuta to ensure that you come home more frequently."
Abiodun further announced that the state would present Joshua with a new house in Sagamu and encouraged him to contribute to sports development in Ogun State by collaborating with the National Sports Commission and the state’s Sports Development Commissioner to host a boxing championship.
The Governor praised Joshua’s achievements, noting his influence as a role model for aspiring athletes in Ogun State. “Your coming back home will be a source of motivation and inspiration for many young men who are aspiring sportsmen, and we have quite a lot of them in Ogun State,” he said.
In response, Anthony Joshua expressed his commitment to showcasing Ogun State’s talent and promoting the region globally.
