Nigeria To Host Inaugural National Boxing Week In Lagos

The Nigeria Boxing Federation (NBF) has announced details for its inaugural National Boxing Week, set to take place from 1-6 March 2026 at the Brai Ayonote Boxing Complex, National Stadium, Lagos.

This week-long celebration of Nigerian boxing will feature a series of high-profile events, including the National Open Trials. These trials will be crucial for selecting the boxers who will represent Nigeria at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, aligning with the National Sports Commission’s (NSC) merit-driven approach.

The National Boxing Week will also pay tribute to the late Nigerian boxing legend, Hogan “Kid” Bassey, a national icon who brought global recognition to the sport. Edun Adewale Olawale, President of the NBF, emphasised the importance of honouring the past while building for the future.

“Hogan Bassey remains an enduring symbol of courage, excellence, and national pride. As an icon, we want to celebrate him with respect and honour, and show the young ones what it truly means to be a hero. His legacy must inspire a new generation of Nigerian champions.”

The National Open Trials, scheduled within the week, aim to ensure a transparent and merit-based selection process for both home-based and diaspora Nigerian boxers. President Olawale reiterated the Federation’s commitment to fairness: “The old tradition of selecting boxers without an open meritocracy is not what we want to do anymore… Every boxer must earn the right to wear the green and white through performance and discipline.”

“We are calling on all Nigerian boxers, at home and in the diaspora, to seize this opportunity. This open trial will determine who represents Nigeria at the 2026 Commonwealth Games. Selection will be fierce, fair, and based strictly on merit.”

The trials are open to all affiliated clubs, state associations, institutions, and eligible Nigerian boxers worldwide, with each affiliated body permitted to present one boxer per weight category. The competition will feature ten weight categories:

Men: 55kg, 65kg, 70kg, 80kg, 90kg
Women: 51kg, 57kg, 65kg, 70kg, 70+kg

Beyond the competition, National Boxing Week will also include a comprehensive developmental agenda. This includes a joint seminar for referees and coaches, national orientation sessions for boxers focusing on discipline and professionalism, and stakeholder engagement sessions to strengthen the domestic boxing ecosystem.

In a significant move towards modernisation, the NBF will unveil newly developed digital assets during the week. Over the past three months, the Federation has been working on projects to automate its licensing system, rebrand its official website and social media platforms, and develop digital infrastructure to improve governance, transparency, and athlete management.

NBF President Olawale described the digital transformation as a critical pillar of reform: “We are repositioning Nigerian boxing for global competitiveness, not just inside the ring, but administratively and technologically. Governance must be as strong as the punches our athletes throw.”

National Boxing Week promises to be a defining moment for Nigerian boxing, blending history, competition, reform, and national pride into one landmark event.