The National Sports Commission (NSC) has described the death of boxing legend Obisia “Golden Gloves” Nwakpa as an irreplaceable loss to the country’s sporting community.
The news of Nwakpa’s passing was confirmed by his family on Wednesday, revealing that he had passed away on Tuesday.
The commission in a statement by Kola Daniel, Special assistant on media, office of the director general, hailed Nwakpa as a true patriot of Nigerian sports, dedicating his life to the development of boxing in Nigeria—from his days as an athlete to his tenure as a national coach.
Mallam Shehu Dikko, Chairman of the National Sports Commission, stated that Nigeria has lost a legend in Obisia “Golden Gloves” Nwakpa.
“Obisia Nwakpa embodies the qualities that any top athlete should aspire to—dedication, patriotism, and discipline during his time in the ring,” he remarked.
“Wherever he went, he represented the resilient Nigerian spirit that made him a dominant force on the continent in the lightweight division during the 1970s and 1980s.”
The Director General of the NSC, Hon. Bukola Olopade, an avid boxing enthusiast, expressed that Nwakpa has left a significant legacy in the sport in Nigeria, which will be remembered for years to come.
“Many of the achievements Nigeria enjoys in boxing today are a direct result of the foundations laid by legends like Obisia Nwakpa in the past,” he noted.
“We stand firmly with his family during this challenging time and will be in contact to provide the Commission’s full support and assistance,” he added.
Obisia Nwakpa boasted an impressive record of 23 wins and 6 losses from 29 fights and represented Nigeria at the Munich Summer Olympics in 1972, the All Africa Games in 1973, and the Commonwealth Games in 1974 in New Zealand.
He later served as a national boxing coach for Team Nigeria at the Olympic Games in Athens in 2004 and the Beijing Games in 2008.
