Ogun State Governor Prince Dapo Abiodun has announced his administration’s plans to construct a brand new Anthony Joshua Indoor Boxing Ring in the state.
Abiodun also announced that the two-time former world heavyweight boxing champion would be lighting the Gateway Games National Sports Festival torch, which has been postponed to May next year.
The governor made this known on Monday when he hosted the two-time world heavyweight boxing champion in his office.
“I want to openly request that, besides the fact that today we are going to confirm you as our sports ambassador officially, we want to request that you come back to light up the Gateway Sports Festival torch; you will be the one lighting it up.
“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. Besides you being our official sports ambassador, we have decided to give you a new house in Sagamu,” he said.
The Governor urged Anthony Joshua to find ways to support the state in sports development, such as working alongside the Director General of the National Sports Commission and the state Commissioner for Sports Development to host a boxing championship.
“We want to plead that you also find ways to support us back home.
We should have planned tournaments leading to the sports festival, and you expressed how you would participate and what you could do to mentor.
“We leave you to work with our Director General of the National Sports Commission and the Commissioner for Sports Development on what we can do to ensure that we have activities leading to the sports festival in your boxing arena.
“Proudly, we bid for the National Sports Festival this year and won that bid. The festival was supposed to be in January; however, for technical reasons, it has been postponed to sometime in May.
“In preparation for the sports festival, we are spending a lot of money; we are refurbishing, rehabilitating, and reconstructing our sporting facilities. As you know, sports is a universal language; it brings people from different parts of the world together,” he said.
The Governor noted that the state is blessed with many talents in music, arts, and sports, who are doing very well and putting the state on the world map.
Prince Abiodun added that the state is highly proud of Anthony Joshua’s achievements on the world stage and that his administration would support his career in every way.
“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.
“I want to congratulate you on your achievements in such a short period. You’ve made a brief story of your life and your career.
“Whatever we can do to encourage you to continue to win more laurels for yourself, your family, for the state, and Nigeria, be assured that we will be more than happy to do that. We watch your career grow, and we will support your career in every way we can,” he said.
Earlier in his remarks, Anthony Joshua noted that he would work towards promoting Ogun State to the rest of the world by showcasing the state’s numerous talents.
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